NEW DELHI, May 3: A Pakistani prisoner was murderously assaulted by an Indian inmate in Jammu’s Kot Bawal jail on Friday, prompting New Delhi to explore a joint effort by the two countries to prevent future tit-for-tat targeting of prisoners.
Sanaullah Haq, serving a life term under India’s anti-terror laws, was being treated for severe head injuries in a hospital in Chandigarh where he was flown from Jammu.
The assault came a day after the death of Sarabjit Singh, convicted of spying and bomb blasts in Pakistan. He was hospitalised last week after two inmates attacked him in Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore. Sarabjit was given a state funeral on Friday and was declared a national martyr by the Punjab government.
India said the Jammu assault was ‘regrettable’ and assured the guilty would be punished even as Pakistan sought his urgent repatriation.
India allowed three Pakistan High Commission officials to go to the hospital in Chandigarh, where the prisoner is recuperating. India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin, had earlier tweeted, “3 Pakistani officials were granted permission for consular access to the injured prisoner in Chandigarh”.
Condemning the attack, Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid said: “Attack on Pakistani prisoner in Jammu jail is unfortunate and extremely distressing.” Earlier, the Pakistan High Commission also sought immediate consular access to 52-year-old Sanaullah.
“Pakistan High Commission has shown serious concern. It has taken up with Ministry of External Affairs the attack on Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah in Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu,” a spokesman for the Pakistan High Commission here said.
Pakistan has also sought airlifting of Sanaullah by an air ambulance to Pakistan and assistance in ground facilitation. He said that apart from seeking immediate consular access, the High Commission had also asked for detailed information about the incident and medical facilities for the victim and security of other Pakistani inmates.
“We are aware of the regrettable incident involving a Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah who was injured today during an altercation with another inmate of the jail in Jammu. The matter is being investigated and the guilty will be punished. Safety and security of prisoners in custody lies with the jail authorities and the necessary action is being taken. We are in touch with the Pakistan High Commission on the matter. The injured is receiving the medical treatment and once the medical arrangements are in place, the consular access will be provided,” Mr Akbaruddin said.
The foreign ministry spokesperson also said that in view of these ‘tragic incidents’, which included the killing of two Indian prisoners in a Pakistani jail and that involving a Pakistani prisoner in a jail in Jammu on Friday, there was a need to take stock of the current measures in place to ensure safety, security and humane treatment of Indian and Pakistani prisoners in each other’s jails.
“For this, we are proposing a meeting of the concerned authorities of both countries to study the recommendations and identify and put in place further measures to avoid such tragic incidents in future,” he said.
Thousands gathered in Sarabjit Singh’s hometown near the border in Punjab. Wrapped in an Indian flag, his coffin was carried through the streets before his cremation on Friday. Some shouted “Death to Pakistan”. Police played the Last Post and gave a 21-gun salute at a state funeral organised by the Punjab government.
Crowded on rooftops and balconies in the summer heat, people watched the preparations amid heavy security deployed for dignitaries like Rahul Gandhi, scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, who attended the service.
Protesters took to the streets in several cities for a second day. India has accused Pakistan of not doing enough to protect Sarabjit.
Several Indian states beefed up security in their jails. Many states already keep Pakistani prisoners segregated from their Indian counterparts.PAKISTAN’S REACTION: In Islamabad, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani spoke to his Indian counterpart on Friday and asked for evacuation of Sanaullah to Pakistan for treatment, according to news agencies.The Indian deputy high commissioner was also summoned to the Foreign Office and lodged a protest at the attack on the Pakistani prisoner.Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said in his weekly briefing that Pakistan had expressed its deep concern over the attack and called upon the Indian government to take all measures to ensure that Sanaullah received best available medical treatment, investigate the matter thoroughly and punish perpetrators of the atrocity.When asked to comment on the reward announced by both the central and state governments of Indian for the family of Sarabjit, which amounts to treating them heroically, Mr Chaudhry said Sarabjit was a terrorist who had taken many innocent lives in Pakistan. He was awarded punishment in accordance with the laws. The spokesman said the issue would be taken up with the Indian authorities.Caretaker Interior Minister Malik Habib Khan also condemned the attack on Sanaullah and called upon the Indian government to provide best medical facilities to him and ensure security of all Pakistani prisoners detained in Indian jails.