Kerala Priest, Rescued From ISIS, Arrives In Delhi, Meets PM Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Father Tom Uzhannalil, who was held captive by ISIS for over a year before his rescue earlier this month, arrived in Delhi today and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
 
Father Tom, who was released on September 12, will leave for his hometown Ramapuram in Kottayam on Sunday. He is expected meet Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday.

The Catholic priest from Kerala was abducted from Yemen by ISIS after an attack on an old people's home run by missionaries in the southern port city of Aden. Gunmen posing as relatives of one of the residents at the home barged in, and killed 16 including four Indian nuns.

In a video released in May, Father Tom pleaded for help. "They are treating me well to the extent they are able," he said and added that "no gun was pointed at me".

Advertisement

He, however, said that his condition was deteriorating and he desperately needed hospitalisation.

He said his kidnappers had contacted the Indian government and the Catholic bishop in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates with their demands.

Advertisement

"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," he had said.

In July, Union minister Sushma Swaraj had taken up his case with the Deputy Prime Minister of Yemen.

Advertisement

The Centre maintained that no ransom was paid for his release and said that the Ministry of External Affairs "works quietly without noise, but ultimately gets the work done".