14 Indians kidnapped in Yemen fly to Mumbai via Dubai

The 14 Indian nationals, who were held captive by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels since February 10, after their ship capsized off Yemen’s coast, returned home on Sunday.

Sreedharan Prasad, a social worker, told Khaleej Times that he received a call on Sunday from one Mr Praveen, who oversaw the repatriation of the stranded Indians. He had called from the transit lounge of the Dubai International Airport’s (DIA) Terminal-2.

“He (Mr Praveen) informed me that 14 Indians, who were kidnapped by the Houthi rebels in February, were on their way back home,” Prasad said.

“The Indian Embassy in Yemen, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India, and Sudheer Thirunilath, who heads the Pravasi Legal Cell in Bahrain, ensured the safe release of 14 abducted Indian nationals,” he said.

The Indian Embassy in Yemen had arranged the safe repatriation of the Indian nationals, he added.

“They reached Dubai from Yemen on Saturday and left for Mumbai the following day at 9:30 am by Air India Express,” he said.