Tom Uzhunnalil

Life Tom Uzhunnalil is a native of Kerala and a Salesian of Don Bosco. He has been working as a chaplain in Yemen since 2010, replacing his elder brother Mathew Uzhunnalil, who had served for more than 17 years. Uzhunnalil has also been to Abu Dhabi on numerous occasions, one of them being the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia Bishop Paul Hinder, based at St Joseph's Cathedral. Though there were initial news reports that Uzhunnalil was crucified on Good Friday in 2016, the Indian government released an official statement declaring that Uzhunnalil was alive. A ransom video was sent by the kidnappers to the Indian government, demanding ₹64 crore.

In December 2016, Uzhunnalil made an emotional appeal for a rescue through a five-minute video that was posted on YouTube, asking the Indian government and the Pope to make effort for his release. Uzhunnalil was released into Omani custody on 12 September 2017. According to the Indian Union Minister, no ransom was paid for his release. He returned to India after his release and met with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Uzhunnalil was quoted as saying, "May God bless all, even my abductors, for all the goodness in them."