Families of 1971 prisoners of war seek their release
AMRITSAR: “I don’t want a government job or any other benefits, my only wish is to see my father back home,” said Baljinder Kaur, whose father sepoy Balwinder Singh of the 10 Sikh Regiment had gone missing in the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the United Ex-servicemen Front for the release of the prisoners of war (PoW) languishing in Pakistan jails, here on Thursday, Baljinder said: My father was declared dead on December 16, 1971, but we come to know recently that he is alive. A war prisoner, Surjeet Singh, who was released by the Pakistan authorities in 2012, had made this announcement at Chaba village near Amritsar. But we didn’t get this information at that time as we live in far-off Chamba Kalan village in Tarn Taran district.”
“My father was declared dead on December 16, 1971, but we come to know recently that he is alive. A war prisoner, Surjeet Singh, who was released by the Pakistan authorities in 2012, had made this
announcement at his village. But we didn’t get this information at that time as we live in far-off Chamba Kalan village in Tarn Taran district.”
Chairman of the front captain CS Sidhu (retd) said: “The Indian government should step up efforts to ensure release of prisoners of war. If the government fails to do so, we will block the Attari-Wagah border in July and stop trade bus and train services between India and Pakistan.”
“There are many war prisoners from Pakistan in our jails too and
their families are also suffering,” he added.
The front has written to defence minister Manohar Parrikar seeking release of Balwinder, who according to Surjeet is lodged in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail.
Arshinder Singh, son of another prisoner of war havildar Dharampal Singh, said “We recently came to know that he is alive. We want him back.”
Baljinder claimed that nayak Bir Singh of the 15 Sikh Regiment from a village in Mansa was also languishing in the Lahore jail.