Sarabjit's family stages protest, meets SM Krishna

The release of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian prisoner on a death row in Pakistan on terrorism charges, his family members today held a protest at the Jantar Mantar and met external affairs minister SM Krishna to seek his release.

The release of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian prisoner on a death row in Pakistan on terrorism charges, his family members on Thursday held a protest at the Jantar Mantar and met external affairs minister SM Krishna to seek his release.

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The family of Sarabjit Singh on Thursday staged a protest in New Delhi demanding the immediate release of the death row prisoner in Pakistan, accusing the neighbouring country of playing a "cruel joke" on them.

Sarabjit's sister, Dalbir Kaur, who has led the campaign for his release in the last few years, along with other family members and supporters held a dharna (sit-in) at Jantar Mantar.

Dalbir Kaur met SM Krishna in South Block to seek her brother's release.

Sarabjit's family claims that he had inadvertently crossed in Pakistan in an inebriated state August 1990 and was arrested there. He hails from Bhikhiwind village along the India-Pakistan border, 280 km from Chandigarh.

He was later identified as Manjit Singh and accused of planting two bombs in Pakistan which claimed 14 lives. He was sentenced to death by Pakistani courts even though his family here claimed that he was completely innocent.

(With PTI and IANS inputs)