Keralite being held captive by suspected rebels in Yemen

A 49-year-old Keralite has been taken captive allegedly by a six member armed group at Sanaa in strife torn Yemen, according to information reaching the family here.

Salman, hailing from Malappuram district, has been in Yemen with his wife and five children since the past seven years.

According to his father, Abdu Rehaman, Salman's wife, Khamarunnisa, informed him that the six member rebel group carrying arms had stormed into their flat on March 24 and taken him into custody along with five others.

Though the other captives were released later, there was no information about Salman yet, his father said.

"We have sent e-mail complaints to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, seeking urgent steps to bring back our son," he said.

Yemen has been witnessing a fierce battle between Saudi-led coalition and Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who have battled their way into various cities, including in the former stronghold of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who has fled overseas.

The total number of Indian evacuees from war-ravaged Yemen touched the 4,000 mark yesterday with nearly 700 more nationals, including 600 from Sanaa, rescued in three air sorties.