Kin fear delay in repatriation of loved ones from Pak jails

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 22

Families of prisoners, especially Indian spies from Jammu, languishing in Pakistan jails are apprehensive about their early release through repatriation after tension escalated between India and Pakistan due to the abrogation of Article 370.

While there has been a regular effort from both sides to release civilian prisoners and fishermen through an agreement of repatriation, families of prisoners in Jammu fear that the process may get stalled leading to their kin being held up on the other side.

Vinod Sawhney, an Indian spy caught in an espionage repatriated back in 1988 after serving 11 years in Pakistan jails. He said some families of people from Jammu languishing in Pakistan jails have become apprehensive about the early release of their kin.

Bishno Devi (51), wife of Om Prakash who is a resident of Budhi, Kathua, said she got a letter last year about the likelihood of release of her husband in 2019 after a series of correspondence with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), but now fears delay after the tension between the two countries escalated.

“I got the information about my husband having completed his sentence. He is serving as internee at Muzaffrabad Jail,” said Bishno Devi.

Internee is a person who is categorised for release under repatriation, said Vinod Sawhney.

Similarly, Urmila Devi (45), wife of Kuldip Singh of Makwal, whose husband is languishing in Pakistan’s Kot Lakhpat Jail, too, has expressed the same apprehensions about the repatriation of her husband under the prevailing circumstances.

However, replying to a question in the Lok Sabha on July 17, 2019, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said India has been successful in securing release and repatriation of 2,110 Indian prisoners, including fishermen, from Pakistan’s custody since 2014 due to its persistent efforts.

Giving year-wise details regarding the release and repatriation of Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen in the last three years, Muraleedharan said 410 fishermen and two civilians were released and repatriated in 2016. In 2017, 508 fishermen and seven civilians were released and repatriated, while in 2018, 174 fishermen and five civilians were released and repatriated, according to the data given by him.

In 2019 till July 11, 355 fishermen and seven civilians were released and repatriated, the data said.

“As per the available information, there are 64 Indian and believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners and 209 Indian and believed-to-be Indian fishermen in Pakistan’s custody,” Muraleedharan had said, adding: “Pakistan has, on July 1, 2019, acknowledged the custody of 52 civilian prisoners and 209 fishermen.”

355 fishermen released till july 

• Giving year-wise details regarding the release and repatriation of Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen in the last three years, V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, said 410 fishermen and two civilians were released and repatriated in 2016. 
• In 2017, 508 fishermen and seven civilians were released and repatriated, while in 2018, 174 fishermen and five civilians were released and repatriated, according to the data given by him. 
• In 2019 till July 11, 355 fishermen and seven civilians were released and repatriated, the data said.