A special Indian airplane departed Lahore airport Thursday evening carrying the body of Indian spy Sarabjit Singh to his hometown, Amritsar.
This marked a grim end to the battle waged by his family to secure his release after he had spent over two decades in Pakistani jails.
The plane landed at Rajasansi Airport where political leaders, including Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur, were present to receive the body.
The body is to be taken to a government hospital for autopsy and would be handed over to the family at village Bikhiwind for a state funeral on Friday.
Indian Punjab government has announced a financial assistance of Rs 10 million for Sarabjit Singh’s family and declared a three-day state mourning.
Flags will fly half mast on all government buildings and there will be no official ceremonial functions during this period, an official spokesman said.
The body was flown out of Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport after receiving clearance from Pakistani authorities.
Queried about the state of Pakistani prisoners imprisoned in Indian jails, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said, “Pakistani prisoners are safe in Indian jails. We are a responsible government.”
Earlier‚ Singh’s body was handed over to Indian High Commission officials after autopsy by a medical board comprising doctors from Mian Munshi Hospital in Lahore.
Meanwhile‚ Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Najam Sethi has ordered a judicial inquiry into the death of Singh. A High Court Judge will conduct the inquiry.
Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal called on the Punjab CM and discussed matters relating to handing over Singh’s body.
The Indian foreign secretary held a telephonic conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani and informed him that Singh will be taken back through a special flight. He sought permission for landing of the special plane.
Earlier, a Foreign Office Spokesman in Islamabad said the Pakistan government will continue to facilitate early completion of all formalities and hand over the body of the prisoner to the Indian High Commission.
Pakistan had been providing assistance to Singh’s family and to Indian authorities since the occurrence of this unfortunate incident‚ when Singh was hospitalised on 26th April‚ following injuries sustained during a scuffle with fellow inmates.
He expired early morning on Thursday, at Jinnah Hospital‚ Lahore.
The spokesman said the prisoner‚ who had been in a comatose state and on a ventilator for the last few days‚ was being provided the best treatment available and the medical staff at Jinnah Hospital had been working round the clock since his hospitalisation to save his life.
However‚ despite their best efforts‚ they could not save him and Singh eventually passed away due to cardiac arrest.
Sarabjit Singh, who had been sentenced to death, had admitted killing 14 Pakistanis in blasts in Lahore and Faisalabad in 1990.
According to police‚ a case has been registered against the accused involved in Singh’s murder.
Sarbjit’s body flown to India on a special flight
