KalingaTV News Network
New Delhi: Catholic priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil from Kerala, who was abducted from Yemen last year, has been rescued, External Affairs Minister Sushman Swaraj announced on Tuesday.
The priest was rescued after diplomatic efforts by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India with the Saudi Arabia and Yemen governments.
Uzhunnalil will be flown to Kerala on Tuesday night, sources said.
“I am happy to inform that Father Tom Uzhunnalil has been rescued,” Swaraj tweeted with a photograph of the priest.
I am happy to inform that Father Tom Uzhunnalil has been rescued.pic.twitter.com/FwAYoTkbj2
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) September 12, 2017
Uzhunnalil was kidnapped from an old-age home run by the Missionaries of Charity on March 4, 2016 . He was in the custody of ISIS terrorists but his whereabouts were not known.
The priest had made an emotional appeal for his release in a video sent by his captors in the last week of December.
“My health condition is deteriorating quickly and I require hospitalization as early as possible,” he pleaded in the video. “My dear family people, do what you can to help me be released. Please, please do what you can to help to get me released. May God bless you for that”.
Ms Kalinga