'I won't relent till my son is saved'

SIVAGANGA: The sense of dejection was palpable in the voice of A S M Antony, the 77-year-old father of Indian Jesuit priest Kumar who was abducted by militants in Afghanistan last month. But hidden in the weary voice was a glimmering ray of hope and rare determination.
"I will meet chief minister J Jayalalithaa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi or whoever it takes to save my son. I will not relent until my son is saved," says Antony, a retired government school teacher and father of Fr Prem Kumar from Sivaganga.Prem Kumar, 47, was kidnapped by unidentified militants on June 2 from Herat province in Afghanistan where he went to serve children in tribal areas as country director of Jesuit Refugee Service, a catholic organisation.
It has been more than a month since Kumar was abducted, but little information about his whereabouts has been taking a toll on the health of Antony. The family of the priest, living in Devakottai, a small town in Sivaganga district has been knocking every possible door from the state government to external affairs ministry to save Prem Kumar.
Antony had displayed courage and composure right from the day the abduction reached them even as the family was shattered. But his determination is taking a beating not only because of dark clouds surrounding Prem Kumar's whereabouts but also the escalating violence in Afghanistan.
"Even today (Tuesday) there were reports that 40 people were killed in bombings in Afgahnistan. Every time there is a news of similar kind, we skip a heartbeat," says Prem Kumar's brother Albert Manoharan.
Of late, Antony has been refusing take food or medicines on many days, says Manoharan who has been taking efforts to meet external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. "All of us are dejected. We try to console him. Sometimes he gives us strength," said Sebastian Durai, brother-in-law of Prem Kumar.
The Centre is yet to respond to their petition to meet the external affairs minister. Antony and Albert Manoharan are shuttling between Chennai and Devakottai to meet officials and submit petitions. They also stay connected with Indian embassy officials in Afghanistan. But Manoharan said that even the embassy officials have little information about Prem Kumar. "Only thing they assure is that Prem Kumar is safe," Manoharan said.
Earlier in June, there were reports that three men connected with the abduction were arrested in Herat, but there were no further developments, he said.
Antony keeps repeating to family members that he still wondered why a priest who has never harmed anyone should be kidnapped. "I trust in God. He would reach home safe," he says.