Kerala priest in captivity urges India to act fast for his release

KOCHI: Father Tom Uzunnalil, the priest from Kerala who was abducted in Yemen by a militant group, has appealed to the Indian government to take steps to secure his release.

In a video released through the social media, Tom Uzunnalil said his health was deteriorating and that he needs to be hospitalised soon. “Please help me,” he said.

“Honourable Prime Minister and President of India, I am saddened that no serious action has been taken to secure my release,” he added. The authenticity of the video is yet to be verified.

Father Tom Uzunnalil also requested the Pope to take care of his life. “Dear Pope Francis please take care of my life,” he said.

The kidnapped priest also requested other bishops to help him. Father Uzunnalil said that if he were a European priest he would have been treated with more seriousness and would have been saved by now. He added that because he was an Indian he was not considered of much value.

Tom Uzunnalil was kidnapped by militants on March 4. Since then the spokesmen of the External Affairs Ministry of the Central Government have said that efforts for his release were going on.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president VM Sudheeran has requested the centre to intervene for the release of Father Tom Uzunnalil.