(MENAFN- Arab Times) A 37-year-old Indian man, identified as Bijo Kolara Veetil, who was allegedly kidnapped by the al-Qaeda linked Abu Sayyaf militants in southern Philippines and held for 14 months reportedly escaped from his captors Friday.
The heavily bearded Bijo, who worked as operations manager for a garment company in Kuwait went missing in June 2011 when he was in the Philippines to visit his wife's family in Jolo.
He escaped from his captors when they fell asleep after fasting for Ramadan and was found by residents of a Parang village.
According to Senior Superintendent Antonio Freyra, Sulu police chief, said. "He is now in the custody of the Sulu provincial police office and is undergoing medical checkup and debriefing."
Indian newspapers said the kidnappers had demanded about 300,000 pesos ($7,100) ransom but his family refused to pay. He added he was not harmed because he is Muslim.
In March, the Sulu police said it got information that Bijo had been executed by the Abu Sayyaf because his family could not pay ransom. This report was later found to be false.
Bijo snuck away from his sleeping captors before dawn Friday, hitching a ride then taking refuge with a local official before contacting police, said Antonio Freyra.
"The kidnappers were resting. They had been fasting (for Ramadan) and they got tired and fell asleep, so he slipped away," Freyra said.
The Indian, who said he lost 20 kilogrammes (44 pounds) in captivity, appeared to be in good health, the police chief said.
He was reunited on the island with his wife, who was surprised to see him free and told police she had not paid any ransom, Freyra said. The motive for the kidnapping remains unclear.
Impoverished Jolo is a stronghold of various armed groups including Muslim extremists, former rebels and private armies of powerful political clans.
The southern Philippines has long been the haunt of Muslim armed groups who kidnap foreigners and Christians for ransom including the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf.
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