Family celebrates Guntur techie’s rescue

GUNTUR: Tension gave way to pure relief in Guntur’s Sampath Nagar on Monday night after news emerged that Infosys employee and one of the hostages in the Sydney siege, A. Viswakanth, was safe.

Mr Viswakanth’s parents, Eswar Reddy and Sulochana, were jubilant and relatives were seen celebrating. Speaking to DC, Mr Eswar Reddy thanked everyone for the moral support the family had received during the crisis.

Mr Viswakanth is set to return home soon after  medical checks. The Sydney cafe hostage crisis ended after 16 hours when Australian commandos, along with local police personnel, stormed the café killing the extremist. Local police identified the gunman as Iran-born Man Haron Monis.

Mr Viswakanth was seen running out of the cafe holding his hands up in the air. But a short distance later, he tripped and fell and had to be lifted by waiting Australian commandos.

Mr Eswar Reddy said that his son had talked to his wife Shilpa after his release and they were waiting to see him.  

The relieved father said that he had watched the footage of the commando operation on television. The family also thanked the Australian government, police and other officials involved in the operation.