LAHORE, Feb 17: Moving scenes were witnessed after India handed over eight persons, including four boys, to Pakistan at the Wagah border check-post as a goodwill gesture to bolster the ongoing peace process.

An official of the Pakistan Rangers told journalists that these persons, incarcerated in various Indian jails, had been handed over to them by the Indian Border Security Force after negotiations between the two government in this regard.

He said all prisoners had mistakenly crossed over to the Indian side during the last two years. The released prisoners included four Muslims and as many Hindus, the official said, adding they had completed their terms on charges of the illegal border crossing in various Indian jails. The Muslims belonged to areas in Punjab while the Hindus hailed from Sindh.

"We were extensively quizzed by different Indian agencies," Sabir Ali, one of the released prisoners, said. He thanked both the Pakistan and Indian governments for making efforts for peace.

Mr Sabir said that there were still hundreds of Pakistani prisoners languishing in various Indian prisons, adding they needed urgent attention of both the governments.

Parents of most of those, who were set free by Indian authorities, had come to the border crossing to receive them. "I am the luckiest father in the world ... I have my son back," one of them said. Other released persons were identified as Babar Ali, Mubarak Ali alias Saghir, Omar Khan, Hemraj, Hemaboja, Vishnu Tarang and Voga Bhai.top3