No verifiable information on abducted Kerala priest, says government

There was "no verifiable information" about the fate of a priest from Kerala who was allegedly abducted by terror group Islamic State in Yemen earlier this month, government sources said on Monday.

The information came against the backdrop of reports claiming that the militant group had planned to execute the priest Tom Uzhunnallil on Good Friday last week. However, there has been no report of any harm to him so far.

There is no verifiable information with the government on Father Tom Uzhunnallil, the sources said. Uzhunnalil had gone missing in Yemen after the Islamic State terrorists attacked a care home run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity.

The gunmen had stormed the refuge for the elderly earlier this month and killed a Yemeni guard before tying up and shooting 15 other employees. Four foreign nuns, including an Indian, working as nurses were among those killed.

 Last week, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said India was making all efforts to secure the priest's release. Sources said the government has even approached the Vatican in this regard.