Jumey Khan, who had spent about a decade in Kot lakhpat Jail at lahore with Sarabjit Singh, is eyewitness to bashing of Indian prisoners by fellow prisoners and jail staff at the behest of ISI sleuths. Talking to The Pioneer, Jumey Khan, 65, said, “Whenever these ISI officials used to visit the jail they would hurl choicest abuses on Indian prisoners and used to ask the jail staff “Ye kambakhat abhi bhi jinda hai (These buggers are still alive). This would often follow the merciless beating of Indian prisoners.
According to him, owing to continuous merciless beating and inhuman conditions in Kot lakhpat Jail, at least 15 prisoners in the jail have virtually turned mad. Belonging to Arbi Ka Gafan village in Barmer, bordering Pakistan, Jumey Khan way back in 1997, strayed into Pakistan while grazing his cattle. He was picked up by the Pakistani Rangers. later, he was charged for spying and was sentenced for 10 years. He spent most of this period in Kot lakhpat Jail and was released in June 2010.
“Sarabjit Singh told me once that he was not involved in bomb blasts for which he was given death sentence. He was arrested much before these blasts and was kept in police custody without showing his arrest. later he was implicated in the case,” says Jumey Khan who feels lucky for being back to India alive.
Another inmate of Sarabjit Singh, lekhuram Meghwal, has not taken food since he heard the news of his death. Belonging to a border village in Sri Ganganagar, Meghwal was released from Kot lakhpat Jail in March this year. “I am sad that Sarabjit Singh could not survive to return to India. I wish I could have attended the funeral of this brave man,” he said on Friday.
Meanwhile, families of about a half dozen Indians from Barmer and Jaisalmer districts, who are languishing in Pakistan jails for the past several years, have urged the Central Government to ensure the safety of these prisoners. Many of them had completed their jail terms but are yet to be released.
Arjun Singh, son of Bhagu Singh, on Friday met the District Collector of Barmer and gave him a letter to be forwarded to the Central Government. Bhagu Singh, belonging to Gohad Ka Tala village, wrongly strayed into Pakistan in 1985. The family of Bhagu Singh had received a letter from him in 2011 according to which he was in Hyderabad Jail.
like Bhagu Singh, there is one Sahu Ram Meghwal, who landed in Pakistan in 1989. Family had received last letter from him about 20 years back. Since then there is no information about him, but the family believes he is still alive and is languishing in Hyderabad jail. Similarly, two brothers Kamal Khan and Jamaludeen of Bandhna village in Jaisalmer wrongly crossed the border in 1986. According to family members both are in Karachi jail.
Family members of these Indian prisoners in Pakistan had also approached the area lok Sabha member Harish Chaudhary to take up their cases with the Central Government for the their safety in jails there.