Missing Kerala farmer returns; was sightseeing in Israel, he says

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala farmer, who went to Israel on a government-sponsored trip with a delegation of farmers and went missing, arrived back in India on Monday, PTI reported.

The farmers' group went to Israel for a 5-day trip to study modern farming technologies there.

The farmer, 48-year-old Biju Kurian hailing from Iritty, Kannur, landed at the Calicut International Airport at 5 am on Monday. He told reporters that he apologises to the Kerala government, state Agriculture Minister P Prasad, and the 27-member team with whom he left for Israel.

He, who went missing on February 17 after the five-day tour concluded, explained that he went to visit holy places in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. He claimed that later he came to know that there were news reports about him missing, but he wasn't sure what to do.

He said that he sought help from someone,since his phone had no internet or international calling facility, and informed his family that he was safe and well.

He stated that following that, he received his brother's help to return back. Then he claimed that since he had his visa valid till May 8, there was nothing illegal for him to stay back.

After the farmer went missing, the state Agriculture Minister promised that the government would look into it. The delegation went to Israel on February 12.