Efforts on to free priest in Yemen: Government

The government is making sustained efforts to secure the release of the priest, Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who was abducted in war-torn Yemen, but such attempts take time, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Ms Swaraj said Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has spoken to various countries through which contacts can be established in Yemen where India does not have an embassy of its own.

The issue was raised by members from Kerala who said disturbing pictures of Father Uzhunnalil were appearing in the social media. She said the government is trying to ascertain the authenticity of these images. She asked the members to keep “faith” in the government’s efforts.

“Yemen is a war-torn country. We do not have an embassy there but we are looking for ways to reach him,” the minister said.

Not only me, the Prime Minister too during his overseas visits has spoken to various countries through which contacts can be established with Yemen,” the minister said.

Father Uzhunnalil, who hails from Kerala, was abducted in March by terror group Islamic State which attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in southern Yemeni city of Aden. At least 15 people at the old-age home were killed in the attack.