‘12 Indians still in Lahore jail’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 14

Septuagenarian Budhan could not have asked for more when she met her son Harjinder Masih after around two years. Harjinder (40) of Palla Pind in Ferozepur was part of the 30 Indian prisoners’ who were released on Monday from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpath Jail.

His mother said she had lost all hopes of seeing him till the Indian embassy officials approached her a few months ago to convey about the well-being of her son.

“It consoled me that at least my son was alive, but I was equally worried that he should not meet the same fate as Sarbjit Singh. My prayers have been answered,” she said.

Harjinder worked in the fields bordering Pakistan. “One evening in 2016, under the influence of liquor I had inadvertently crossed the border as the fence was broken due to Sutlej flow,” he said. He was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment.

Harjinder claimed that at least 12 Indians had been lodged in Kot Lakhpath Jail and some for over two decades. “We were 16 Indians lodged in the same barrack. Four of us were released, while Kuldeep Singh of Jammu and Kuldeep Kumar of Gujarat have been in the jail for 25 years.”