After languishing in jails of Pakistan for nearly 27 years, Indian national Gopal Dass is all set to return to his village in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on Thursday.
Gopal's family members, residents of Bhaini Mian Khan village in Gurdsapur, began celebrating after they got a phone call from 52-year-old Gopal on Wednesday afternoon informing them of his return.
Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari on March 27 remitted the remaining jail term of Gopal 'on humanitarian grounds'.
'I received a phone call from Gopal that he will be returning on Thursday and ever since we are very happy,' said Gopal's elder brother Anand Vir.
'It will be a great day for us. The entire family and some other villagers will be going to the border to receive Gopal.'
The atmosphere an house has been festive since Zardari announced Gopal's release.
'We have received communication from the Centre that Gopal Dass will be coming back to India on Thursday,' Amritsar deputy commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu said, adding, 'We will send a representative to the border for this.'