In regular touch with authorities for release of Father Uzhunnalil: Government

Abducted Kerala priest appeals Pope, Centre to secure his release

KOTTAYAM: Indian priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil , who was abducted from Yemen, was seen begging for life in a video uploaded on social media, a day after Christmas. The priest appears very weak and at times was gasping for breath in the 5.06 minutes video. In the video, he is seen appealing to Pope Francis, the Indian government as well as other governments to secure his release from his captors.Father Uzhunnalil, who hails from Ramapuram in Kerala's Kottayam District, was abducted in March this year by suspected ISIS militants.The veracity of the video uploaded on YouTube and Facebook , or the period when it was shot could not be independently verified. However, relatives of the priest confirmed that it was indeed the priest who appears in the video. "Father is clearly shown in the video. He appears to be very weak and is gasping for breath while talking. He needs immediate medical care," said Augustine Mathew, a cousin of the priest who is also the General Secretary of Uzhunnalil Family Association (Kudumbayogam).The priest sounds dejected for lack of efforts to save him. "If I were a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered as of much value," says the 59-year-old. "Dear Pope Francis, dear Holy Father, as a father please take care of my life. I am very much depressed. My health is deteriorating," he says. He claimed his captors have made many contacts with the Government of India, President and Prime Minister."I am very sad that nothing has been done seriously in my regard," he said. "Reports have been there in the news that everything is being done to release me quickly. But in reality nothing seem to have happened. I am very sad and depressed. I request also my fellow Christians in India, the Bishops and priests, to do their might to help me to get released and save my life," he added. Father Uzhunnalil also cited the incident of a French reporter abducted in the Middle East, who was later released. "I am from India and not considered. Dear people, I pray you all, ask you all, beg you all to do your might to help me to save my life. I need hospitalisation soon. Please come to my help quickly," he said.The family members were unsure about what to do in this hour of crisis. "Father is thinking that the government has not done anything to rescue him," said Augustine Mathew.After the airing of video on television channels, the relatives of the priest gathered at his ancestral house, which now mostly remains locked. Last week, the elder brother of Tom Uzhunnalil, U V Mathew, had undergone a bypass surgery in Pala and left for Bangalore to stay with his daughter. The two younger brothers of the priest, David and Joshy, who both stay in the US, had come to India recently. Shaji has returned to US while David is still in India. He had gone to a relative's house in Thiruchirappally when the video had come out."One of our relatives in Abu Dhabi sent the video through WhatsApp around 10am on Monday," said Shajan Thomas, a cousin of Uzhunnalil. "Neither the government nor the church have contacted us so far since the video came out," he added.The government today said it was in regular touch with authorities in Yemeni and Saudi Arabia regarding the safe release of Father Tom Uzhunnalil "You are aware of the circumstances currently prevailing in Yemen where fighting is going on with no central authority in that country."With regard to the safe release of Father Tom who was abducted some months ago, we have been in regular touch with countries in the region, especially Saudi Arabia as also the local Yemeni authorities. Efforts continue in this regard," external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.(With inputs from agencies)