“In this context, we reiterate that till date no further information has come to us from credible and authoritative sources regarding the whereabouts or wellbeing of Fr Tom. Therefore we earnestly appeal to all concerned to desist from forwarding all such unsolicited and misleading messages and spreading false rumors. In the meantime, let us continue to pray for Fr Tom so that the Lord may protect him from all harm and relieve him from the clutches of the evil forces sooner than later”.
In recent days, Fr Valarkot had also said to the UCANews agency that "we must be patient with the system," pointing out that an Indian Jesuit kidnapped by terrorists in Afghanistan was released after nine months.
Fr Joseph Chinnaiyan, (CBCI) Deputy Secretary General of the Indian Catholic Bishops' Conference, meanwhile, has said that the Indian Church is in "constant contact" with the Indian government about the status of Fr Uzhunnalil and that the Indian Foreign Ministry "has informed us that it has stepped up efforts to locate the priest."
