Kochi: The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) on June 8 expressed concern about the uncertainty over the release of Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who was abducted by a terror group in Yemen.
The council has requested the federal and state governments to ensure his safe release as early as possible.
“KCBC is very much concerned about prolonged uncertainty in the release of Father Tom Uzhunnalil. We request the Central and state governments to continue their sincere efforts to make possible his safe release from the captivity of militants in Yemen,” a press release said after a two-day meeting of the Catholic bishops in Kochi, the commercial capital of Kerala.
Father Uzhunnalil, who hails from Ramapuram village in the Kottayam district of Kerala, was abducted on March 4 by a terror group in conflict-hit Yemen.
He was captured from the southern Yemeni city of Aden by gunmen who killed 16 people, including four nuns, at an old people’s home, The Press Trust of India reported.
Minister of State for External Affairs, Gen V K Singh, had said last month in Kottayam that there was no “adverse” report about the 57-year-old Salesian priest.