Kidnapped Indian priest Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil news update: Signs of mistreatment shown in new photo

A photo of the abducted Indian priest Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil surfaced on social media Tuesday, July 19 that showed signs of abuse and belied authorities' claim of his safety.

According to Manorama News, a person who identified himself only as a "Yemeni friend" of the captive priest uploaded the Salesian priest's picture on Facebook and even responded to messages from the priest's friends.

The "Yemeni friend" captioned the photo, "An entreaty seeking his release will be uploaded soon."

Although the image depicted the priest in a disheveled state with overgrown gray beard and hair, his family still rejoiced upon the latest confirmation that he's alive.

"Many people in the family have checked the picture and feel it is father Uzhunnalil's," Augustine, a relative of the priest, told TNM. "This is the first time such a picture has come. The only solace is that we know he is alive."

The Catholic Church also remained hopeful that the Indian priest still lives even when rumors spread that the kidnappers already crucified Fr. Uzhunnalil on Good Friday. The Apostolic Vicar of Saudi Arabia, who is in-charge of the case, expressed hope that the captive priest would be released soon as Indian authorities assured they're doing all efforts for Fr. Uzhunnalil's release.

The priest disappeared four months ago in Aden, Yemen when four suspected Islamic State terrorists assaulted a retirement home managed by the nuns of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity. At least 16 people died during the attack, including missionaries and patients.

The Indian government later ruled out the Islamic State group as suspects for the abduction and said that Fr. Uzhunnalil remained safe in Yemen.

Fr. Uzhunnalil's "Yemeni friend" refuted the government's claims of safety and asserted that the priest had asked him to expose the truth. He also posted a video, allegedly found on Twitter, which captured abuse of a blindfolded man.

The priest's family did not yet confirm the blindfolded person in the video as Fr. Uzhunnalil but authorities suspect that his abductors hacked into his social media account.

Yemen's state of unrest further complicates efforts to secure the priest's release.

"There is no government there and so our government is finding it tough to hold talks," said Augustine. "We don't believe he has been taken away by Islamic State, but perhaps by a smaller group. The caption on the picture says his plea would be posted soon, waiting for that."