KOCHI: A year after the abduction of Fr Tom Uzhunnalil, a petition has been filed before the Kerala High Court seeking a directive to the Central government to take all possible steps with the help of United Nations and its agencies for the release of the priest. He was abducted last March from an old-age home run by the Missionaries of Charity in Aden in strife-torn Yemen by terror group-Islamic State.
The petition was filed by MV Mathew of Vyttila, Kochi. The petition stated that a video of Fr Uzhunnalil stating: "If I were a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered of much value," was released.
The petitioner stated that even a year after the incident, the Central government has failed to trace the
whereabouts of the priest. The kidnappers or terrorists have not demanded anything from the government as a condition for releasing the abducted priest. The intention of the abduction is also not known to the government. Uncertainty prevails with regard to the steps taken by the government and the public have doubts, said the petitioner.