Fearing repercussions in the wake of the death of Sarabjit Singh after a murderous assault on him in a lahore prison, Punjab Government has separated Pakistani prisoners lodged at various jails in the State from Indian prisoners.
In all, there are 57 Pakistani prisoners in Punjab jails located at Amritsar, Ferozpur, Patiala, Kapurthala, Nabha, and ludhiana.
In another step, the security of these prisoners has also been beefed up following Sarabjit’s death.
“Keeping in view the expected reaction to the death following brutal attack on Sarabjit by his fellow prisoners in lahore jail, we as a precautionary step has put the Pakistan prisoners in separate cells from that of the Indian inmates. Security of Pak prisoners has also been increased on the directions of the Chief Minister to avert any untowardness,” Punjab Jail Minister Swaran Singh Phillaur said.
Among the 57 jail inmates, two of them are females. Of 57, maximum 38 are lodged in Amritsar, followed by eight in Ferozepur, three in Patiala, two each in Nabha and ludhiana, and one in Kapurthala.
Union Home Ministry has also asked all the states to step up security of nearly 220 Pakistani prisoners lodged in their respective jails in the wake of the murderous attack on Sarabjit Singh in a lahore prison that led top his death.
Home Ministry, in an advisory issued immediately after Sarabjit’s death, has asked all the states to ensure proper security to the Pakistani prisoners expressing apprehension that they may be targeted as a reaction to the attack on Sarabjit. As per official figure, nearly 220 Pakistanis are lodged in various jails in the country, a significant number of whom have been arrested in cases relating to terrorism and drug peddling.
On the other hand, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur maintained that the central Government has been repeatedly taking up the issue of other Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails with their Government. “It is really their responsibility...duty to look after the Indian prisoners who are in their jails,” she added.