The Hindu : Lost in the wilderness

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Sunday, Sep 28, 2003

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Lost in the wilderness

By Our Staff Reporter

JAMMU SEPT. 27. Hundreds of families on both sides of the border, who are making strenuous efforts to secure the release of their loved ones locked up in Indian or Pakistani jails on charges of straying, are despairing over the fresh war of words between the two countries.

The recent thaw in the relations between the two countries saw the release of 19-year-old Ranjit Kumar, a resident of Kariyal Brahmna of Jammu, by the Pakistani Government in response to the personal intervention of the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in the release of Munir, a Pakistani boy who strayed into Rajasthan. These developments had kindled the hopes of these families.

Several cases of straying have been recorded on both sides due to the ill-defined border. And these innocent people and their families are forced to pay a price.

The family of Ram Prakash living in Bishnah is a case in point. Ram Prakash is in Lahore jail for the last six years. The family has not received a letter from him for the last five months and is worried.

Moving from pillar-to-post is his wife, Raj Kumari, who has met almost all the powers-to-be, including the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. She was assured that her husband would soon come back due to the improvement in relations.

"If the relations between the two countries worsen, our worries deepen," says Raj Kumari.

The same sentiment is expressed on the other side of the International

Border by Amir Ali's family in Multan province. Amir is in Ramgarh jail for over a year.

Talking to The Hindu over the phone, Nasseba, sister of Amir, said: "What crime innocents from both sides have committed? The Governments of both countries have no right to spoil the life of civilians by indulging in blame game. It is time the civil officials got serious about the plight of our families. Every day is a torture for us. Keeping the innocents in jails is a crime against humanity".

The list of innocents languishing in jails on both sides is endless. Their tales are heart-rending.

For instance, a deaf and dumb seven-year-old boy, who strayed into Keran sector in north Kashmir from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, is languishing in jail. Despite their best efforts, police have not been able to ascertain his identity. And his name in the police records is `gounga' (the deaf one).

Ranjit Singh recalls that there were 82 Indian prisoners in the Lahore jail where he was lodged. Some of the inmates were languishing for more than 22 years and had even lost their mental balance.

There are also instances of inmates who do not have anybody to follow up their cases.

What makes the timely deportation of these people difficult? A senior police officer presently investigating these cases said: "I have to admit that the release of these innocents boils down to the policy of give and take adopted by both countries. This is because of the suspicion in the minds of both countries about each other".

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Lost in the wilderness