New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS): More than eight months after he was kidnapped, Indian national Father Alexis Premkumar Antonysamy has been released by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday expressed happiness at the release and spoke to Father Alexis.
The external affairs ministry said 47-year-old Alexis, who was kidnapped June 2, 2014 from Herat province in western Afghanistan by terrorist elements, has been released.
At the time of his abduction, Alexis was working with the Jesuit Refugee Service, an international NGO, doing work in the educational field in Afghanistan.
The matter of his release was pursued by India, "including at the highest levels by the prime minister", the ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
"We express our deep gratitude to all those who worked tirelessly over the last eight months to help in this humanitarian task of ensuring the safe release of one of our citizens."
"Father Alexis Premkumar is now back in the safety of his homeland and arrangements are being made for him to rejoin his family soon," he said.
Prime Minister Modi tweeted: "Delighted at securing the release of Indian Jesuit priest Father Alexis Prem Kumar from captivity in Afghanistan. Have spoken to Father Alexis Prem Kumar. Informed happy family of Father Alexis Prem Kumar of his safe return after 8 months in captivity."
In June 2014, after the kidnapping, then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa had written to Modi seeking his intervention in securing the release of Alexis, who hails from the state.
Modi had assured that the "government will spare no effort" to ensure the early release of the priest.
Alexis was Afghanistan director of the Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS), an educational charity, and was living in the war-torn country for over three years.
He had accompanied a teacher on a visit to a school near Herat when he was kidnapped.
His abduction took place 10 days after an attack on the Indian consulate in Herat by four heavily armed gunmen carrying rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns.
Father Alexis Prem Kumar's family elated at news of release
It was a happy Sunday for the family of Father Alexis Prem Kumar when they got news of his release from captivity in Afghanistan after eight months -- and from Prime Minister Narendra Modi no less.
"We are extremely happy to hear the news. We thank the government of India and the government of Tamil Nadu for taking efforts in securing his release," Albert Manoharan, brother of Father Alexis Prem Kumar told IANS over phone.
He said Prime Minister Modi spoke to his father and sister Sunday and said Prem Kumar will be back in Delhi Sunday evening.
"It is a great Sunday surprise gift for us," John Joseph, another brother of Prem Kumar, told IANS.
He was all praise for Modi and the central government.
"It is a government that works even on Sundays. We thank the central government, and Prime Minister Modi for the great job," Joseph said.
He said his father and sister plan to leave for Delhi Sunday.
Modi had earlier tweeted about the safe release of Prem Kumar who was kidnapped June 2, 2014 from Herat province in Afghanistan.
His family in Tamil Nadu had been praying for his safe return.
The Jesuit priest, head of NGO Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), was abducted from Zendjan district while he was visiting a project site.
He was visiting a school for Afghan refugee children and had just returned from a trip to Iran and Pakistan.
Before moving to Afghanistan four years ago, Prem Kumar had worked for the JRS, serving Sri Lankan refugees living in Tamil Nadu.
JRS has been working in Afghanistan since 2005 accompanying returnees home from exile in Iran and Pakistan and providing education and healthcare services in Bamiyan, Kabul and Herat. In 2013, more than 6,000 vulnerable people from disadvantaged communities benefitted from these services.