New Delhi: Two Church sources closely associated with the Indian Salesian priest abducted in Yemen have raised doubts about the authenticity of a photo appearing in media.

“We do not know who is behind the Facebook page with the image of Fr Tom [Uzhunnalil],” says a July 21 press note from Fr Francesco Cereda, vicar of the Rector Major of the Salesian of Don Bosco, based in Rome.

The latest photograph, the press note, says has not only raised concern about the present situation of the abducted priest but caught public attention after some weeks of media silence.

The picture claiming to be the 57-year-old priest appeared on his Facebook account on July 19. Other media sources published a video clip showing a bearded and blindfolded man undergoing torture.

Fr Cereda says Fr Uzhunnalil’s Facebook account was cleared all its contents on July 21.

The press note says the Salesian officials in Rome have contacted the Bangalore provincial secretary, who is the official spokesperson of the province, as well as Bishop Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia.

“According to their own information, there are no news or further developments about the situation of Fr Tom [Uzhunnalil]. In case anything new will occur Monsignor Hinder will promptly notify it,” it adds.

Bishop Hinder, based in Abu Dhabi, is responsible for the pastoral care of Catholics in United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen.

The Salesian vicar says even the secretary of the Salesian’s Bangalore province has “doubts about the authenticity of that picture.”

Fr Uzhunnalil, who belongs to this southern Indian province, was working as the chaplain at a Missionaries of Charity center in Aden, Yemen, when suspected Islamic militants captured him on March 4.

The Salesian communication appeals for prayers for Fr Uzhunnalil as well as for all persecuted Christians in many countries.

The video shows the kidnapped priest being abused and in poor physical condition. However, there are no specific details such as where and when the video was filmed.

The Salesian vicar also says their global congregation keeps watch over the situation and maintains close contacts with Fr Uzhunnalil’s family while collaborating with Bishop Hinder and the Indian government.

Meanwhile Bishop Hinder, in a separate message, says the images claiming to be Fr Uzhunnalil are not new and do not provide “definite information” about his current situation.

The Capuchin prelate says the video only proves that the person shown in it was alive when it was shot. “We hope that he is alive. We do not know when the video dates to, there is no certain information about it.”

He also adds that the priest has been in the hands of a jihadist group, “in all likelihood the Islamic State (IS) group,” that killed four Missionaries of Charity nuns and 12 others who worked in their home for the elderly in Aden, southern Yemen.

During Holy Week unsubstantiated rumors circulated in India of a plan by the priest’s kidnappers to crucify him on March 25, to coincide with Good Friday, the memorial of Christ’s passion and death.

The Salesians and Bishop Hinder denied these rumors on several occasions, but they have fueled fears about the fate of the priest.