‘MISSING’ SIKH COMES BACK

:A 24-year-old Indian Sikh man, who had gone missing in Pakistan during Baisakhi celebrations and was subsequently found from the residence of his “Facebook friend”, was on Tuesday handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah border.

“After getting special approval from the interior ministry the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) today (Tuesday) handed over Amarjit Singh to the Border Security Force at the Wagah Border,” ETPB spokesman Amir Hashmi told PTI.

Amarjit Singh, a resident of Amritsar, had arrived in Pakistan along with other 1,700 Sikh pilgrims to celebrate Baisakhi on April 12. But his disappearance was only noticed when the entourage he came along with, embarked upon the return journey to India on April 21. On Monday, he was found from his Facebook friend Amir Razzak’ house in Sheikhupura, about 50 kms from Lahore, where he had gone to see him.

According to the ETPB, Singh, on his arrival to Nankana Sahib, had left the group to meet Razzak.

“The family of Razzak contacted the board yesterday (Monday)and told them about his (Singh’s) stay at his residence. Both Singh and Razzak visited the

ETPB office in Lahore and said that he (Singh) had not gone missing ,” Hashmi said. Hashmi said Singh told the board that he thought that he had a one-month visa and he would return after a couple of weeks. HTC

NEW DELHI