Worried parents and wife pray for Kutty's early return

The aged parents of the Border Roads Organisation driver from Kerala, who was kidnapped by suspected Taliban militants in Afghanistan, are praying for their son's early release. Maniappan R Kutty was kidnapped, along with three Afghans, Sunday when they were working in a highway construction project.

• Kidnapped Indian driver's family seeks his release

Maniappan was planning to visit his parents and wife in this coastal village in Alapuzha district on November 8 when he was transferred by the BRO to Afghanistan.

He was earlier posted at Meghalaya.

"Maniappan is our only son. He is the sole breadwinner of the family," Maniappan's 70-year-old father Ramankutty, a heart patient and his mother, Mani (60), who is recovering from cancer, told PTI.

Maniappan's wife Bindu is devastated hearing about his abduction. The couple have two sons aged 8 and 3 years.

The family came to know about his abduction first from television reports. They were later intimated by BRO officials from Delhi, his uncle, Krishnankutty said.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has also spoken to Maniappan's relatives and is expected to visit the family Monday.

Krishnankutty said the family had been informed that all efforts were being made at the highest level for his early release.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala said he had spoken to the prime minister's private secretary and the external affairs ministry secretary Monday morning and they have promised that the needful was being done to ensure his safe return.