Wayanad, Dec 14 (IANS): A retired school teacher in this Kerala town was woken up early Tuesday by a phone call from a group of people who had abducted his son Nidhin in South Africa and demanded Rs.10 million as ransom. The Indian embassy there confirmed the incident and the Indian external affairs ministry has been apprised of the crime.

Nidhin, 27, was returning to his home in Pretoria from Johannesburg when he was kidnapped.

His father, who identified himself only as Baby, told IANS that he got the ransom call at around 3 a.m.

"They gave the phone to my son and he said that he would be killed if the money was not paid. After that the kidnappers called us twice and said the same thing," Baby said.

Nidhin has been in Pretoria for the past six years and runs a restaurant there.

"He was supposed to come home on Dec 10 for Christmas but he changed his plans as the Malayalee Association there asked him to attend the Christmas celebrations. He attended that and was driving back to Pretoria when he was kidnapped. We have got in touch with (Leader of Opposition) Oommen Chandy, who has taken up the matter with the central government," said Baby.

Chandy told IANS that the Indian embassy in South Africa had confirmed the incident.

"I have also got in touch with External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi. We will do all we can to see that Nidhin is released," Chandy said.