Emotions run high as Surjeet comes home after 30 years

Emotions ran high at Attari-Wagha border as Indian prisoner Surjeet Singh walked a free man into the country of his birth amid boisterous welcome after spending over 30 years in a Pakistan jail.

Emotions ran high at Attari-Wagha border as Indian prisoner Surjeet Singh walked a free man into the country of his birth amid boisterous welcome after spending over 30 years in a Pakistan jail.

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It was at about 11:30am that Surjeet Singh wearing a white kurta- pyjama, black turban and sporting a 'tille wali jutti' was spotted on the Pakistani side. Within two minutes, he had set foot on India soil, a moment he had been waiting for 30 years in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail.

His son Kulwinder and daughter Parminder, who were kids when Surjeet crossed over into Pakistan, welcomed Surjeet with garlands and bear hugs. And they both literally had to introduce themselves to Surjeet as a lot had changed in the past 30 years.

As Surjeet moved further into India, smiling and waving to his kith and kin, BSF men whisked him away to a room to complete formalities.

Later, sitting on a chair on the Indo-Pak border and facing a battery of cameras, Surjeet said, "I feel the same what a man would after meeting his children and come back to his country after 30 years.

Detailing his stay in Pakistan jail and condition there, Surjeet said, "Whether condition is good or bad does not matter. A prisoner is a prisoner. But one thing I want to make clear: That Indian prisoners face no problems in Pakistani jails. They are given facilities. They all are fine. Those who require are given medical attention. Some are mentally upset but they don't face any problem."

Asked about his fellow prisoner Sarabjit Singh, Surjeet said, "Sarabjit is fit and fine. I have met him and he faces no problems."

"Although he lived alone in a solitary cell, we met him once a week. Today, I wanted to meet him but was not allowed," he added.

Reacting to the confusion over release of Sarabjit, Surjeet maintained, "In Urdu language, Sarabjit and Surjeet are written in the same way. When release papers came in, it was told that they were my papers and not Sarabjit's. Rehman Malik told this."

Pak agencies don't want Sarabjit's release: Surjeet

Later, talking at the Golden Temple, Surjeet said, "The case of Sarabjit Singh is related to terrorism. And both Indian and Pakistan don't spare terrorism. The agencies there don't want his release."

"That day also when news of Sarabjit Singh's release broke out, there were protests in ISI, army and other agencies. Pak media flared up the issue. It was Pak media which was responsible for the fate of Sarabjit," he added.

"Sarabjit will come one day but I want that his case must be taken up without much hype. The family of Sarabjit must not also create much hype," added Surjeet.
He said that he has prayed at Harmandar Sahib for the release of Indian prisoners lodged in Pak jails and Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails.

Asked why he went to Pakistan, Surjeet first evaded the query. "Why do you people want me to speak such things." However, later he said that he had crossed over for spying and was sent there by an Indian agency.