Trying to bring back bodies of Malayali nurse, son killed in Libya: Chandy

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Saturday confirmed that a Malayali nurse and her infant son have been killed in a shelling attack in Libya and asserted that the state government is trying to bring their bodies back.

The incident reportedly occurred on Friday night when the shell landed in their apartment complex. Sunu and her 18 month son were there, while her husband Vipin was outside.

"One Malayali mother and her kid have died in Libya. I have contacted the people from Kerala who are still there and they want immediate help from the Indian embassy. I have also requested that their bodies be brought back to Kerala. We will do our best to bring the others stuck in Libya, they want to come back. They are afraid but safe at the moment. I am trying to contact the Indian embassy in Libya," Chandy told the media here.

Talking about the capture of Malayali priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who has been captured by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) in Yemen, he added that he has already requested the government to interfere in the matter by admitted that the Indian embassy in Yemen was not functioning properly at the moment.

"Sushma Swaraj has promised that she will do whatever she can to save him. So today, we again request and appeal to the government to interfere," the Chief Minister added.

Earlier today, the Indian government confirmed the capture of Father Tom Uzhunnalil and said that efforts were underway to ensure that he is released.

"Fr Tom Uzhunnallil - an Indian national from Kerala was abducted by a terror group in Yemen. We r making all efforts to secure his release," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

Her reaction comes after a growing alarm among the Christian community following an ominous report by the terror outfit to crucify him around Easter.

Father Uzhunnalil was kidnapped on March 4 after four gunmen attacked a retirement home in Aden run by the Missionaries of Charity killing sixteen people, including four nuns.