Sydney hostage crisis ends: Guntur techie Viswakant’s trip for breakfast took 16 hours
Hyderabad/Guntur: Moments after he fled a cafe in Sydney, where he was held hostage for 16 hours, Guntur techie Viswakanth Ankireddy called his wife Shilpa Reddy and said he would be reaching home soon.
Viswakanth is a senior project manager of Infosys in Westpac Bank, and had gone to the cafe to get breakfast for his wife Shilpa and daughter Akshaya. His brother A. Dheerodatta Reddy, who lives in Guntur, said, “It was a tense day for the entire family. It is a matter of great joy that he is home safe.
Read: Sydney's Lindt Cafe siege ends after 16 hours: 3 dead, including gunman
The mood of sorrow turned into happiness in Sampath Nagar of Guntur city on Monday night with the safe return of Viswakanth Ankireddy from the captivity of extremists. Parents Eswar Reddy and Sulochana, along with relatives and friends, expressed happiness over the safe return of Viswakanth. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Mr Eswar Reddy said that the God has fulfilled their and well-wisher’s prayers about the safe release of Viswanath.
He thanked one and all who gave moral support to their family in the crisis. Union minister for external affairs Sushma Swaraj has stated that Sydney crisis is over, Viswakanth returned safely and would return to home after medical checkups.
The Sydney cafe operation was ended after 16 hours as Australian commandos along with police barged into the café and killed the two extremists. Two hostages were inured in the operation and they were rushed to hospital for treatment. The local police identified one extremist as Iran born man Haron Monis.
Read: The lone wolf, self-styled sheikh who held a Sydney cafe hostage
Mr Viswakanth was seen running out from the hotel by showing his hands in air but after some distance he was fallen onto the ground. Commandos lifted him and he was seen facing some trouble to walk in the video footage. Family members distributed sweets to relatives and locals were happy over the release of Viswakanth.
Mr Eswar Reddy said that Viswakanth talked with his wife Shilpa after release and they are waiting to contact him. He said that Shilpa said Viswakanth was released safely without any injuries in the commando operation and was frustrated due to 16 hours in the captivity.
Mr Eswar Reddy said that he watched the footages of commando operation in the Lindts Choclate Café at Martin Place in Sydney, Australia on television channels. He said that other employees of Infosys have informed them about the safe return of Viswakanth and thanked the union and state governments and other leaders for their efforts for the safe return.
Read: Family celebrates Guntur techie’s rescue
Mr Eswar Reddy, mother Sulochana, uncle Gurivi Reddy and other relatives thanked the Australian government and local commandos and police department for the successful commando operation.
Mother Sulochana thanked all the people who stood with them in the crisis and further thanked Australian police, union/state governments, ministers and media who helped for the end of hostage issue. She said good would be always victorious over evil and this is the truth, and added that doing good deeds in our life would give good results during difficulties.
Guntur joint collector Ch Sridhar and other officials met Mr Eswar Reddy and inquired about the details of the operation that helped for the safe release of Viswakanth.
