THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Biju Kurian, the Kannur Iritty-based farmer who went missing in Israel as part of the 28-member State Government delegation, reached Karipur airport on Monday morning. Later he told reporters in front of his home that he was not deported, but returned willingly.
The State Government has set out a sigh of relief after the safe return of 48-year-old Biju Kurian. He reached Karipur airport from Tel Aviv via Bahrain on a Gulf Air flight at 4 am. His brother, Benny Kurian, a practising lawyer in Kannur, was there to receive him at the airport. "I returned voluntarily, none had deported me. It was my brother who met my flight ticket expenses. I stayed back in Israel to visit the religious places there", said Biju Kurian.
The 28-member farmer's delegation was led by State Agricultural Production Commissioner B Ashok on a five-day State-funded training programme on modern agricultural practices including precision farming and hydroponics.
On Feb 17, Biju Kurian went missing from Israel on the day the delegation was scheduled to return to Kerala. Following the State Government taking up the issue before the centre, the Israel Government took up the absconding of Biju Kurian seriously. This led the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv to spring into action.
Mossad, the Israel Police, had traced Biju Kurian to a village in Israel, which has a sizable population of Malayali community, who works mainly as caregivers. The Indian Embassy was also informed about zeroing in on Biju Kurian who was deported back to Kerala.
The central Government had assured their Israel counterpart that they will not take any action against Biju Kurian. This led them to deport the farmer. He will be produced before the Police and after recording his statement, he will be freed.