File Photo: Shi'ite Muslim rebels hold up their weapons in Yemen's capital Sana'a (Reuters Photo)
A 49-year-old Indian national has been taken captive allegedly by a six-member armed group at Sana'a in strife-torn Yemen, his family has said.
Salman, who belongs to Kerala's Malappuram district, has been in Yemen with his wife and five children for the last seven years.
According to his father, Abdu Rehaman, Salman's wife, Khamarunnisa, informed him that the six-member rebel group carrying arms had stormed into their flat on March 24 and taken him into custody along with five others.
Though the other captives were released later, there was no information about Salman yet, his father said.
"We have sent e-mail complaints to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, seeking urgent steps to bring back our son," he said.
Yemen has been witnessing a fierce battle between Saudi-led coalition and Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who have battled their way into various cities, including in the former stronghold of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who has fled overseas.
The total number of Indian evacuees from war-ravaged Yemen touched the 4,000 mark on Tuesday with nearly 700 more nationals, including 600 from Sanaa, rescued in three air sorties.