An Indian prisoner reaches home after spending 20 years in Pakistan jail
20 Aug 2008, 2009 Hrs

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Rasoolpur (Uttar Pradesh), August 20 (ANI): Vishwanath, an Indian prisoner who is mentally-disabled reached his native village Rasoolpur in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh today after spending 20 years in Pakistan Jail.

Police handed over Vishwanath to his family on Monday evening.

It is believed that Vishwanath has become mentally unstable; allegedly due to torture and atrocities he faced in the prison, where he was lodged in Pakistan.

"They beat me up on one day and locked me for another five days. They give me one square meal a day," said Vishwanath.

Vishwanath's father says he looked for his missing son at various places but couldn't find him.

"When he went missing, we searched him but couldn't find him. I was helpless being the only member of the family I was facing problems. I looked for him in various areas of the village on my bicycle for five years couldn't find him. But now he is back," said Okai, Vishwanath's father.

Police believes that Vishwanath might have been released along with other prisoners by Pakistan on the Independence Day.

The Rajasthan police found Vishwanath near the international border on the same day.

"The Rajasthan police team approached us after they found him in Indo-Pakistan border. He has been missing for 20 years from his home. The Rajasthan police on getting some information about his native place, brought him here where we identified him and released him to his family," S.B. Rai, Inspector of Bardah police station.

In 2006, Pakistan authorities released over 400 Indian fishermen, including 30 children caught fishing illegally in their territorial waters.

India responded by releasing 130 Pakistani fishermen, but says 350 more could be in Pakistani prisons.

Indian officials say more than 100 boats every month cross the international maritime boundary between India and Pakistan and they often have no clue as to how many fishermen had strayed. (ANI)