An Indian priest abducted by gunmen in Yemen last month is safe and could be released soon, an Indian official told the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India.
“[Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj] has assured us Father Tom is safe and negotiations are on for his release which could happen very soon,” said Father Joseph Chinnaiyan, deputy secretary of the bishops’ conference.
Father Tom Uzhunnalil was captured from the southern Yemeni city of Aden by gunmen who killed at least 15 people at an attack of a home for the elderly.
“Swaraj has categorically assured the delegation that Uzhunnalil is safe and that the government is adopting all possible means for his quick and safe release,” the bishops’ conference said in a statement.
Swaraj, however, told the bishops that details of the negotiations and the technicalities involved with the negotiations cannot be divulged “as it would endanger the process of the release.”
Aden has been racked by lawlessness since Hadi supporters, backed by Gulf Arab military forces, drove fighters of the Iran-allied Houthi group from the city in July last year.
International aid groups have pulled most of their foreign staff from Yemen due to security concerns.
Sources
Times of India
The Indian Express
Christian Today
Image: Christian Today