The Hindu : National : Freed Indian says 56 more still in Lahore jail

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Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005

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National

Freed Indian says 56 more still in Lahore jail

Luv Puri

70-year-old Kashmir Singh has been behind bars for 32 years

NOW AMID FAMILY: Bharat Bhushan, one of those released by Pakistan on Monday, with his family members in Ludhiana on Tuesday. — Photo: PTI

KATHUA: There are still 56 Indian prisoners in Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore, Pakistan. Some of them have been languishing behind bars for several decades, says Radhey Shyam, who was among the 435 released by Pakistan on Monday.

Radhey Shyam (45), a native of Kathua town in Jammu and Kashmir, was given a rousing welcome here. He was returning home after spending seven years in various Pakistani jails.

Radhey ended up in Pakistan territory in September 1998 when he inadvertently strayed into Shakergarh tehsil of Sialkot district while visiting his aunt in Bobiya sector of Kathua district. Nabbed by the local police, he was questioned for three days.

"At first, they suspected me of being a spy and continued to be asked about explosives which, according to the police, I had brought from India to carry out blasts. I told them that I strayed into Pakistan inadvertently and did not have any explosives. But let me confess: I was never beaten up during the questioning nor did I undergo any brutality."

He was produced before the Shakergarh district magistrate, who sentenced him to one-year imprisonment on July 22, 1999. On August 15, he was shifted to Lahore jail where other Indians were lodged. He was allotted barrack number three where there were 12 other Indians. Some of them had been there for several years. The worst plight was that of 70-year-old Kashmir Singh, a resident of Hoshiarpur, Punjab, who has been behind bars for the last 32 years. He was charged with spying and sentenced to death by a Pakistan court.

Message from others

Similarly, Makhan Singh, a resident of Ferozepur, Punjab, has been incarcerated for 23 years, while Vijay Kumar (38), a resident of Mansar in Samba tehsil of Jammu, landed in a Pakistani jail when he was 18 years. Of the 120 Indian prisoners in Lahore jail, only 64 were released. When Radhey was preparing to leave the jail premises, the remaining inmates told him to request the Indian authorities to expedite their release as well.

According to Radhey, a human rights team led by activist Asma Jehangir, visited the jail complex four years ago. Since then, the Punjab Government has carried out several jail reforms. "The quality of food has improved and those who want to cook themselves are allowed to do so. There is sufficient supply of blankets during winters. The toilets are also clean. The general behaviour of the prison staff has also undergone a change."

Radhey was all praise for Farooq Nazir, Superintendent of Kot Bhalwal jail, and described him a "gentleman." The prison officer, on the request of Indian prisoners, had a television set installed. "We were in touch with the events in India through Doordarshan."

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