Indian prisoner returns home after 10 years in Pakistan dungeon
7 Jul 2008, 2226 Hrs

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Wagah Border (Punjab), July 7 (ANI): After serving ten years' jail sentence in Pakistan, 51-year-old Ram Prakash returned to India via Wagah border on Monday.

His family members had turned up at the border to receive him.

Ram Prakash was actually released on June 30 and was brought by the Pakistani authorities to Wagah border check post on July 1 for handing over to the Indian authorities at Attari. But the Indian authorities refused to take custody of him, as he was not carrying the required travel documents.

The immigration and Border Security Force (BSF) authorities at Wagah border said they have to follow certain rules and regulations besides adhering to proper protocol in such sensitive international matters, and therefore, had no authority to accept an Indian prisoner from Pakistan without proper travel documents.

Narrating his story to the media, Ram Prakash said that he was made captive by the Pakistani authorities soon after he entered Pakistan via Sialkot border.

He said that after a year-long interrogation he was court marshaled and sentenced to ten years of imprisonment.

"I went (to Pakistan) through Sialkot border. I was interrogated for one year. The army carried on court marshal and sentenced me for ten years of imprisonment," said Ram Prakash.

His son Deepak, who was overjoyed to see his father at the Wagah border, said that the family had to undergo a lot of ordeal during Ram Prakash's more than decade long absence.

"I cannot describe my joy on his (father's) return. How our family have spent last 11 years is even more difficult to describe. The last six days (after the announcement of his release) were also difficult as we were running out of patience to welcome the moment of his arrival," exclaimed Deepak.

A resident of Kucha Talab village near Bishnah in Jammu and Kashmir, Ram Parkash was arrested in 1997 and jailed in Pakistan on spying charges.

He was sent back to Kot Lakhpat jail to serve his sentence. (ANI)