Warned of death if seen again in Afghanistan: Priest

Chennai, Feb 26 (IANS) Jesuit priest Father Alexis Premkumar Antonysamy Thursday said his captors in Afghanistan had warned him they would shoot him dead if he was seen in the country again.

Speaking to reporters here, hes said his captors did not harm him except keeping him bound and blindfolded when travelling.

"While releasing me, they said I would be shot if they saw me again in Afghanistan," said Antonysamy, the Afghanistan director of educational charity Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS).

The priest, who had been living in the war-torn country for over three years, was kidnapped from Zendjan district while he was visiting a project site last June.

He was visiting a school for Afghan refugee children and had just returned from a trip to Iran and Pakistan.

His abduction took place 10 days after an attack on the Indian consulate in Herat by four heavily armed gunmen carrying rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns.

He was released from his eight month captivity recently.

According to the priest, the captors treated him well and said they would release him. At no stage did he feel threatened, said Antonysamy, who thanked God and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his safe release.