Kerala farmer who allegedly went missing in Israel returns to country

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Kozhikode (Kerala) : A farmer from Kerala who had reportedly gone missing after going to Israel on a government-sponsored trip to study modern farming techniques, returned to India on Monday. Farmer Biju Kurien (48) told reporters after landing at the Calicut International Airport around 5 a.m. that he apologized to the Kerala government, state Agriculture Minister P. Prasad and a 27-member delegation and officials.

He explained his absence since February 17, saying he had gone to visit holy places in Jerusalem and Bethlehem after completing a five-day trip to Israel to understand new agricultural techniques. The farmer claimed that he came to know about his disappearance from media reports and did not know what to do next.
Kurien said that he contacted his family with the help of someone and informed them about his well-being. His phone did not have internet or international calling facility.

The farmer said that after this he returned to India with the help of his brother. Kurien said his visa was valid till May 8 and he had not stayed there illegally. After he reportedly went missing, the state agriculture minister had said that the government would look into the incident. The delegation went to Israel on 12 February and Kurien was untraceable from 17 February after the study was over.

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