Indian priest says he was never physically harmed during captivity

Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, the Indian priest who was recently released from captivity in Yemen, says that he was not physically harmed by his captors even though they appeared to hit him in videos.

The Catholic priest was abducted by suspected Islamic State militants during an attack on a care home in the Yemeni port city of Aden in March 2016. At least 16 people, including four nuns, were killed in the attack.

After Indian officials announced his release last Tuesday, Uzhunnalil was transferred from Yemen by car to Oman and then brought by air to Muscat before he arrived in Rome.

"I thank God Almighty for this day. He saved me healthy enough. Clear mind. Emotions under control until now," the 59-year-old priest said, as reported by The Associated Press. "God has been extremely kind to me. No gun was pointed at me," he added.

The priest recounted that when the militants attacked the home for senior citizens, he identified himself as Indian, and he was brought to another room "while they killed the others."

He said that he was never harmed, even if the terrorists appeared to hit him in some videos in an effort to get a speedy response in negotiations. He said that he was provided with tablets to treat his diabetes and noted that the kidnappers even brought a doctor for him for a full check up.

"I even celebrated two birthdays in captivity. You might wonder what I was doing the whole day. I had freedom to do whatever I want, I could lie down, stand up whenever I want. They had told me to do exercise within the room. I used to do small exercises, freedom was there," he said in a press meet, according to The News Minute.

The government of Oman said on Tuesday that it had "coordinated with Yemeni parties" to negotiate the release of Uzhunnalil, who last appeared in a video circulated online in December.

He said that he did not know the identity or affiliations of his captors, noting that they kept their faces covered in his presence.

The priest said he believed that their motive was ransom, but the head of Uzhunnalil's Salesian order, Don A.F. Artime, said that he had no knowledge of any payment being made in exchange for the priest's release.

"No one ever told us that they asked for money. No one asked us for even a euro," Artime said. "We don't know anything about this. This is the whole truth. And I believe that Father Tom knows even less," he added.

Uzhunnalil noted that he was transferred several times during his captivity, but he does not know where he was held. During his captivity, he prayed and exercised his mind by reciting Mass by memory, the priest said.