Fr Tom Uzhunnalil was given a rousing welcome at his village in Ramapuram, KottayamKochi: Keralite priest Fr Tom Uzhunnalil, who was freed after being kept in captivity for 18 months by terrorists in Yemen, Sunday said he would go to the strife- torn country again for service, if God wishes him to do so.
"Certainly I will go there if God wishes me to do so. I am sure He (Jesus) would clear the way for me to do so", the priest told reporters here in response to a question.
Uzhunnalil said he still had no idea about the militant outfit which abducted him from the charity home run by the Missionaries of Charity in Yemen in 2016.
"I don't know whether they belong to ISIS or any other group. They did not harm me in captivity or pointed guns at me. They gave me food. They gave me medicines when I fell sick," he said.
Earlier, Uzhunnalil arrived here from Bengaluru and met Church leaders, priests and his relatives.
Former chief minister Oommen Chandy visited the priest at his ancestral house in Kottayam.In the evening, he met priests and church goers at the Bishop's house at Pala in Kottayam district before proceeding to Ramapuram to meet his neighbors and brothers.
He was given a rousing welcome at his village, with prominent politicians joining his family and villagers in welcoming the priest home. Former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy visited the priest at his out Sunday night.
The 59-year-old Catholic priest had returned to Delhi on September 28 after rest and recuperation in Vatican City.
Upon his arrival in the national capital, Uzhunnalil had met prime minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and thanked them for their support.
Uzhunnalil, who arrived in Kottayam Sunday, with his elder brother.Uzhunnalil belongs to the Congregation of Salesians of Don Bosco and was abducted during a terrorist attack in Aden and taken to an undisclosed place.
On his arrival at the airport in Kochi Sunday, he was welcomed by Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala and several priests, besides Christian leaders.
Uzhunnalil reached Yemen in 2010 and was serving the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity of St Mother Teresa.
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