Gajanand back home, gets hero’s welcome
HOMECOMING The 78yrold has been in a Pakistan jail since 1982 JAIPUR:
On the eve of Independence Day, it was Diwali at Lal Bahadur Nagar in Jaipur. Slogans of ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ reverberated as crowd gathered at the house of Jaipur MP Ramcharan Bohra to welcome Gajanand Sharma, who was freed from a Pakistan jail after 36 years on Monday.
A floral welcome awaited Sharma as he stepped out of the car on Tuesday. His family members and relatives were there. The grandchildren of Sharma, who were meeting him for the first time, touched his feet and took his blessings.
Makhni Devi, Sharma’s wife, was so overwhelmed that she turned speechless, kept looking at Sharma with tears in her eyes.
Bohra took Sharma to his house and enquired about his well-being. “I am feeling very happy,” Sharma said.
People garlanded Sharma and also asked him to garland his wife, which he did with a smile.
After spending some time at Bohra’s house, Sharma left for his home at Nursing Colony in Brahmpuri area with a cavalcade in 8-10 cars, occupied by relatives
SHARMA HAS BEEN AT THE KOT LAKHPAT JAIL IN PAKISTAN SINCE 1982. HE WAS RELEASED BY THE PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT
and friends.
Sharma has been at the Kot Lakhpat jail in Pakistan since 1982. He was released by the Pakistan government on Monday and he stepped on to the Indian soil at Wagah Border.
After completing the legal formalities, he left for Jaipur on Tuesday and reached here in the evening. Last week, a delegation led by Bohra, along with the family members of Sharma, met the minister of state for external affairs general VK Singh, who promised to get him released on August 13.
His release has kindled hope among four families in Barmer and Jaisalmer districts in Rajasthan whose kin are believed to be lodged in jails in Pakistan for more than three decades.
Three months ago, police had approached the family to confirm Sharma’s nationality and informed that he was lodged in a Pakistan jail. Gajanand, who used to work as a labourer, disappeared from their residence nearly 36 years ago.