New Delhi: An Indian Salesian priest, who was abducted in Yemen more than four months ago, is being subjected to severe torture in an unknown place, according to a Kerala newspaper’s website.
A video clip published by the “Mathrubhumi” (mother land) newspaper in Malayalam language purportedly shows his captors attacking a blindfolded Father Tom Uzhunnalil.
The newspaper also carried an alleged picture of the priest with unkempt long beard and hair.
The newspaper claimed it received the video and photo from the relatives of Fr Uzhunnalil in Kerala, the priest’s native place.
The photograph had first appeared in Fr Uzhunnalil’s Facebook account, raising fears that the priest’s captors had hacked it. The Facebook account said “Fr Tom’s Entreaty will be uploaded soon.”
Father Uzhunnalil was taken captive on March 4 during the course of a murderous terror attack on a home for the elderly operated by the Missionaries of Charity in Yemen. The attackers killed 16 people, including four members of the congregation founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
“Although the video and photo bring some consolation, it is not clear where the priest is being held or his present condition,” the newspaper reported.
The video has revived the hope that the priest is still alive.
The Members of Parliament from Kerala plan to meet Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on July 20 to renew their demand to get the priest released soon, Mathrubhumi reported.
It also said the federal External Affairs Ministry still has no clue about the priest’s whereabouts.