Kin of 2 Indian prisoners in foreign jails move SC/ST panel

In the wake of recent death of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh in a Pakistani jail, family members of other Indians languising in jails abroad have become fearful of their safety. Family members of two such prisoners appeared before the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Tribes on Monday to seek justice for their loved ones.

In the wake of recent death of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh in a Pakistani jail, family members of other Indians languising in jails abroad have become fearful of their safety. Family members of two such prisoners appeared before the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Tribes on Monday to seek justice for their loved ones.

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Rajwant Kaur, whose brother Daljit Singh is lodged in a jail in
Thailand, and Gyan Singh, whose son Sarabjit Singh is lodged in a jail in Greece, met with commission vice-chairman Dr Raj Kumar Verka.

Dr Verka said that Daljit had gone to Thailand on a tourist visa for three days in June 2006, but is lodged in jail there for the last seven years. "Like Dalbir Kaur, Rajwant is also fighting for the release of her brother. She also claims that they have been given no help by the Indian embassy in that country, be it legal counsel or a translator," Dr Verka claimed.

He further said that Gyan Singh's son Sarabjit was misled by an agent on the pretext of sending him to the UK, but was instead sent to Turkey. "Gyan Singh paid Rs 6 lakh by selling his land. In Turkey, Sarabjit's passport and Rs 50,000 were snatched from him and he was sent to Greece by sea. Once there, he was kidnapped and his family had to pay ransom to secure his freedom. Once freed by the kidnappers, he was arrested by Greece police," Dr Verka said.