Tom Uzhunalil, the priest who was kidnapped by Islamic State terrorists in Yemen in March 2016, reached Kochi on Sunday, 1 October, after being released from captivity earlier this month.
After arriving in New Delhi on 28 September, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minster Sushma Swaraj.
He was given a rousing welcome by his family, church and top political leaders from the Congress-led opposition upon his arrival at the airport at 7 am from Bengaluru, where he spent some time with the Salesians Congregation, to which he belongs, and attended a bishops' conference.
Thanks to all who was with me and may God bless all people. Returning to one’s home is the best feeling anyone can have and I too have the same feelings.Tom Uzhunalil
However, no state government members were present.
Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala accompanied by half a dozen of Congress legislators said that it was highly improper that there was no one from the state government.
On 12 September, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj confirmed on Twitter that the priest had been rescued.
18 Months in Captivity
In a statement on Tuesday, Oman said that the priest, a “Vatican employee” was rescued as per a request from the “Vatican.”
“In response to the Royal Orders of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and as per a request from the Vatican to assist in the rescuing of a Vatican employee, the concerned authorities in the Sultanate, in coordination with the Yemeni authorities, have managed to find him. He was transferred Tuesday morning to Muscat in preparation for his return home in Kerala,” the statement said.
A later version of the statement, however, removed the words “as per the request of the Vatican” and referred to Father Tom Uzhunallil as a “Vatican priest”.
Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who hails from Kottayam, was abducted last year by the ISIS, which attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in Yemen's city of Aden. He has made several appeals over the last 18 months to the Indian government to rescue him.
In a video released in May, Father Tom had made renewed appeals for help. In the video posted on Yemeni news portal www.aden-tm.net, Uzhunnalil had said: "They are treating me well to the extent they are able."
My health condition is deteriorating quickly and I require hospitalisation as early as possible... 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.
In December 2016, the priest, in a video, had appealed to the Indian government and Pope Francis to secure his release from his captors.
On 30 May this year, his relatives met Kerala governor Justice P Sathasivam, seeking help. They requested the Governor to pressurise the Centre to intensify search for the priest. Former CM Oommen Chandy also accompanied the relatives.
The MEA had been reportedly working on his release for a while, with help from Sultan Qaboos bin Said, King of Oman, and the Oman Foreign Affairs ministry.
The Oman Observer put out a statement which said, “In compliance with His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Oman in coordination with the Yemeni parties have managed to find a Vatican priest. He has been transferred to Muscat from where he will return to his home in Kerala.”
Tom Uzhunnalil, a Vatican priest, expressed thanks to God Almighty and appreciation to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. He also thanked his brothers and sisters and all relatives and friends who called on God for his safety and release.
(This story has been updated to reflect the return of the priest. With inputs from The News Minute and IANS.)
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