ID :
11886
Tue, 07/08/2008 - 15:21
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/11886
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Indian prisoner handed over to BSF by Pak authorities
Islamabad, Jul 8 (PTI) - Indian national Ram Prakash, freed last week after serving a 10-year prison term in Pakistan on charges of spying, was Monday repatriatedfollowing a mix-up that delayed his return home.
Prakash was handed over to Border Security Force(B.S.F.) officers at Wagah, officials said.
The 51-year-old Indian, who was arrested by Pakistani authorities a decade ago on charges of spying, was freed from Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore July 1 on the orders of theInterior Ministry after he completed his prison term.
He was taken to the Wagah land border but could not be repatriated as Pakistani authorities had not officially informed the Indian High Commission here about his release. Asa result, Prakash's travel documents were not prepared.
Following this, Prakash was sent back to Kot Lakhpatjail.
Reports have suggested that confusion arose when jail officials handed over Prakash to Pakistani border police to be repatriated to India without ascertaining whether he possessedtravel documents.
Prakash, a resident of Tawi district in Jammu and Kashmir, was convicted for alleged espionage in 1998 after being arrested by Pakistani security officials in Sialkot. Hewas then handed down a 10-year prison term by a special court.
However, Prakash told Pakistani TV channels at Wagah last week that he was arrested in June 1997 while he was trying to cross over to India after smuggling liquor to Pakistan. He said he was interrogated for a year before beingsent to jail in Lahore.
Prakash was handed over to Border Security Force(B.S.F.) officers at Wagah, officials said.
The 51-year-old Indian, who was arrested by Pakistani authorities a decade ago on charges of spying, was freed from Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore July 1 on the orders of theInterior Ministry after he completed his prison term.
He was taken to the Wagah land border but could not be repatriated as Pakistani authorities had not officially informed the Indian High Commission here about his release. Asa result, Prakash's travel documents were not prepared.
Following this, Prakash was sent back to Kot Lakhpatjail.
Reports have suggested that confusion arose when jail officials handed over Prakash to Pakistani border police to be repatriated to India without ascertaining whether he possessedtravel documents.
Prakash, a resident of Tawi district in Jammu and Kashmir, was convicted for alleged espionage in 1998 after being arrested by Pakistani security officials in Sialkot. Hewas then handed down a 10-year prison term by a special court.
However, Prakash told Pakistani TV channels at Wagah last week that he was arrested in June 1997 while he was trying to cross over to India after smuggling liquor to Pakistan. He said he was interrogated for a year before beingsent to jail in Lahore.
