Jayalalitha asks Modi to help free priest in Af

Joining in the chorus of other political leaders in the state, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha on Thursday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal intervention to secure the release of Father Alexis Prem Kumar, who was abducted in Afghanistan.

“I would be grateful if you could kindly intervene personally and take up the matter at the highest level in Afghanistan so that the local authorities redouble their efforts to secure the safe and early release of Father Alexis Prem Kumar,” she said in a letter to Modi.

Jayalalitha said Prem Kumar was on a humanitarian mission, working with refugee children when he was kidnapped. “The incident has caused considerable anxiety to his family and friends here in Tamil Nadu.  

There is also a groundswell of sentiment in different parts of the state as Father Alexis Prem Kumar has a stellar record of having worked amongst tribal women and children for their welfare. There is a fear that his life may be in mortal danger,” the letter read.