Bengaluru: Indian priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who was rescued from Yemen, over a year after he was held captive by ISIS, will visit Delhi, Bengaluru and Kerala.
The rescued priest’s family said that he will reach Delhi on September 28, will be visiting Bengaluru on September 29 and Kerala on October 1.
The Saleshian congregation and the Uzhunnalil family are planning to give a warm welcome to Father Tom during his visit to Kerala.
“A reception will be accorded to him at Ramapuram by the Uzhunnalil Kudumba Yogam,” Thomas Uzhunn-alil a member of the family said. Prof Navitha Elizabeth Jose, who received the first telephone call from Father Tom after his release from the custody of terrorists, confirmed it, adding, “a meeting of the family will be convened so as to give a rousing welcome to Father Tom.” Father Uzhunnalil will come to New Delhi and then to Bangalore from where he will reach his home place at Ramapuram.
Father Tom Uzhunnalil had thanked the Government of India for facilitating his rescue from Yemen over a year after he was abducted by ISIS.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj spoke to Father Tom Uzhunnalil and said, “He profusely thanked the Government of India, especially the Prime Minister for efforts to rescue him. He has also conveyed his thanks to the people of India for their concern and prayers for his release. He also conveyed his thanks to the governments and people who helped in his rescue mission,” she said in a series of tweets, adding that India thanks Oman and Yemen for rescuing him.
Father Uzhunnalil was rescued on September 12. He was reportedly kidnapped on March 4, 2016 by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) in Yemen, when they attacked a retirement home in Aden run by the Missionaries of Charity, killing sixteen people, including four nuns.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) expressed its immense joy on getting the news of the release of Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil SDB on September 12.
Archbishop of Bangalore Dr Bernard Moras too had said, “We are indeed very happy to know about the safe release of Rev. Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, SDB.