PoW Surjit Singh’s kin seek his early release from Pak jail

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, September 9

Family of Surjit Singh, a prisoner of war in Pakistan jail, today met Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs.

Surjit Singh, a BSF sepoy is a prisoner of war in Pakistan. He went missing during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. In the first week of April 2011, when Gopal Dass, a prisoner languishing in Pakistani jails for 27 years, was released following the interference by the judicial committee. At that time, wife and son of Surjit Singh approached him to know about his condition.

Amrik Singh, son of Surjit Singh, said the External Affairs Minister has assured him the earliest release of his father. "However, the minister said because of the strained relations with Pakistan, it was not the right time to raise the matter with Pak authorities,” said Amrik Singh, quoting Sushma Swaraj.

My son was barely a year old when my husband was captured along with 54 other missing persons during the1971 war, said Angrej Kaur, wife of the sepoy. The entire childhood of my son and my youthful days were spent waiting forhim, hoping that one day he would return, she said. “In this tense time, the sympathetic approach of Pakistani authorities towards Indian prisoners can turn into loathsome, so now they need more security,” said Amrik Singh.