Father Alexis Prem Kumar has been released from captivity as a hostage of the Taliban in Afghanistan.
He had been in the hands of the Taliban for almost nine months. At the time of his kidnapping Father Kumar was the head of the Afghan section of the Jesuit Refugee Service.
He belongs to the Jesuit Province of Madurai and has worked with the Jesuit Refugee Service for more than ten years.
He joined the Society of Jesus in 1998, and worked with Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu for six years before arriving in Afghanistan four years ago. He was abducted on June 2 last year.
Father Kumar was abducted from a school for refugees that he was visiting in the village of Sohadat, about 25 km from the provincial capital city of Herat.
According to press reports his release was the result of interventions by the Indian government.
“Delighted at securing the release of Indian Jesuit priest Father Alexis Prem Kumar from captivity in Afghanistan,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on Sunday.
Fr Alexis’s father A S M Antony, who was about to leave from Chennai to Delhi with two family members, told TOI, “The Prime Minister spoke to me to inform me about my son’s release from captivity. We have been waiting for this day. I must thank the Prime Minister for his personal efforts. I also thank the state government” the Times of India reported Feb. 22.
Father Kumar landed in Delhi about 7.30 pm on Sunday evening. He thanked God and Prime Minister Modi. He said, “This is because of our Prime Minister. He saved me. He talked to me after I landed, and he arranged for my family to come here… I thank the people of Tamil Nadu and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu as well,” reported the Indian Express.
Fr. Kumar’s family, Jesuit Refugee service, the Jesuits and the Indian Catholic Church, are extremely happy and thankful to the Prime Minister Mr. Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for securing the safe release of Fr. Alexis Prem Kumar,” said a statement from the Jesuit Conference of South Asia Sunday evening.
