Biju to arrive on Friday

KOYILANDY: Biju Kolara Veetil, who escaped from his Philippine separatist group captors, will reach his native land here on Friday. His relatives and native villagers are well-prepared to welcome him.

Biju was kidnapped on June 22, 2011, by militants belonging to Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group from his Filipina wife Elena’s house in the village of Tempok, near Patikul town in the country’s troubled southern province.

Biju fled when his captors were asleep. He grabbed the chance when he woke up at 2.30am. He walked around and seeing that no one was following he started running. He bumped into the villager after he had run for more than an hour. After confirming that Biju was an Indian, the man took him to the house of a person who owned a jeep. He was later taken in the jeep to the village office, from where he was handed over to the police.

Biju had married Elena eight years ago while both were working in Kuwait. The couple have two children. Biju had gone to Elena’s house in June 2011 to visit his mother-in-law. Before flying to Philippine, Biju had spent a day with his aged parents and brother.