Surjeet crosses over to India ,release from Pakistan jail

Freed after spending 31 years in a Pakistani jail on charges of being a spy, Surjeet Singh on Thursday crossed over the Wagah border to an emotional welcome by family and friends.

The 69-year-old looked cheerful as he got down from a prison van in Lahore escorted by a Pakistani security personnel who latched on to an iron chain hooked to his belt.

Sporting a flowing white beard, Mr. Surjeet Singh told reporters after stepping on Indian soil that, “After 30 years, I am meeting my children. I am very happy“.

Mr. Surjeet Singh said that he wished to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple before leaving for his native Phidde village in Ferozpur district.

As soon he crossed the border, Mr. Surjeet Singh hugged his family members including wife Harbans Kaur, son Kulwinder Singh and grandchildren besides villagers from his native village Phidde who garlanded him, distributed sweets and burst into celebrations amid beating of drums.

Mr. Surjeet Singh served a life term following his arrest on charges of spying in the 1980s in Pakistan.

He was given the death sentence under the Pakistan Army Act in 1985. The death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1989 by then President Ghulam Ishaq Khan.

Asked about another Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh who is lodged in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, Mr. Surjeet Singh said certain groups in Pakistan opposed his release.

“I am sure now I will get Sarbjit Singh released from Pakistan jail, don’t know how I will do it but certainly I will meet the authorities concerned in India for Sarbjit Singh,” he said.

“He is not facing any problems there.

He is fine. I used to see him on a weekly basis in the prison,” Mr. Surjeet Singh said, hoping for his early release.

Mr. Surjeet Singh attributed the confusion on the release of Mr. Sarabjit Singh to a spelling mistake.

“All this happened due to spelling mistakes as in Urdu language the spelling of Surjeet and Sarabjit are almost similar,” he claimed.

Earlier, Pakistani security personnel had escorted Mr. Surjeet Singh to the Wagah land border crossing, where he was handed over to Indian authorities.

His release from prison came after reports emerged on Tuesday that Pakistan was to free Mr. Sarabjit Singh.

But later, Pakistan clarified that authorities had actually ordered the release of Mr. Surjeet Singh and not Mr. Sarabjit Singh.

After he emerged from the jail, Mr. Surjeet Singh said he was looking forward to meeting his family.

“During my imprisonment I often remembered my family and children.

Today I am very happy. I will go to the Golden Temple to pray and hug my children,” he told reporters.

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http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article3580059.ece?homepage=true