External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday assured kidnapped Indian priest Father Tom Uzhunnalilin that the life of every Indian is precious for her Government and that India is making all efforts to get him released. Swaraj’s statement came after a day Uzhunnalilin pleaded with the Indian Government to get him freed from the captivity of suspected ISIS terrorists.
“I have seen the video from Fr Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us,” Swaraj tweeted. She said the Indian Government had recently got Indian citizens Father Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D’Souza released from Afghanistan. Both were believed to have been kidnapped by terror groups.
“We got Fr Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D’Souza released from Afghanistan. We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom’s release from captivity,” Swaraj said clearly indicating the efforts made by the Indian Government to get people from similar community released from captivities.
In a video message that surfaced on social media on Monday, Father Uzhunnalilin was seen pleading for his release. Uzhunnalilin was abducted in March by a faction of ISIS from an old-age home run by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in southern Yemeni city of Aden. In this video, Uzhunnalilin made appeals to the Indian Government and Pope Francis to secure his release from the captors. “If I was a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered as of much value,” Uzhunnalilin said.
Uzhunnalilin claimed his captors have made several contacts with the Indian Government but got no response. “I am very sad that nothing has been done seriously in my regard,” he said. He added reports had said everything has been done to get his release, “but in reality nothing” has been done. Uzhunnalilin pointed out that a journalist abducted in the Middle East was released as she was from France. “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.