Kerala - Kochi

Sudan hostage contacts parents

KOCHI: Confirming that he is alive, P.K. Abhilash, who was captured by tribal rebels in Sudan on May 13, phoned his parents at Gothuruthu near here on Wednesday. This was the first time that Abhilash could contact his family since he was captured 53 days ago.

Mr. Abhilash’s father Kunjachan told The Hindu that his son sounded tired. But the family, which has been in angst all these days, was relieved that he was alive.

Mr. Abhilash told his parents that he was being held captive in a jungle in southern Sudan by rebels. They had demanded ransom from the company for which he had worked. He had been told by the captors that he would not be freed without their getting the sum they had demanded.

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