Retaliatory attack?: Pakistani inmate assaulted in Indian jail

Pakistan summons Indian envoy, lodges protest, calls it ‘retaliation’ for Sarabjit’s death.

ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE/ JAMMU:

A Pakistani prisoner was badly beaten by fellow inmates in an Indian jail on Friday in apparent revenge for a fatal attack on convicted Indian spy Sarabjit Singh in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail earlier this month.

Sanaullah Ranjay, a convicted murderer, was assaulted early Friday in Jammu, Indian-administered Kashmir, a day after the Indian home ministry ordered stepped up security for jailed Pakistanis.

“It was a scuffle between the Pakistani prisoner and Vinod Kumar, who is an ex-Indian army soldier. Both of them were serving life-imprisonment,” said K Rajendra, the state’s director general of prisons.

According to the Indian media, Sanaullah received serious head injuries and was first rushed to the Medical College Hospital in Jammu, where medics said he had slipped into a coma, much like Sarabjit, who was attacked on April 26 and died Thursday.

Sanaullah was later flown to Chandigarh in an air ambulance and admitted to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). Doctors reported that Sanaullah has been put on a ventilator.

Pakistan condemned the attack and demanded Sanaullah’s immediate repatriation for better medical treatment.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry told a weekly press briefing that Islamabad summoned India’s deputy high commissioner to lodge a strong protest over the incident.

The spokesperson described the attack on Sanaullah as ‘obvious retaliation’ for the death of Sarabjit and demanded a probe by Indian authorities. “We have also reminded the government of India of its responsibility in ensuring the safety and security of all Pakistani prisoners lodged in Indian jails,” he added.

India’s External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid regretted the incident and termed it an ‘extremely distressing’. “Injuries caused to a person in incarceration is unacceptable and sad. Therefore, we are cooperating with Pakistan...,” The Times of India quoted Khursheed as saying. However, he rejected Pakistan’s claim that it was a retaliatory attack.

Muslim prisoner dies in Tihar jail

Accroding to The Times of India a Muslim inmate was allegedly beaten up by other prisoners in Delhi’s Tihar Jail after clashes erupted in the prison.

The deceased, identified as Javed, was rushed to Deen Dayal Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Prison officials said no Pakistani prisoner was involved in the clash and that the reason of clash is yet to be investigated.

Kot Lakhpat Jail officials suspended

Kot Lakhpat jail’s superintendent and his two deputies have been suspended for negligence following Sarabjit’s death. IG Prisons Mian Farooq Nazeer confirmed the development to The Express Tribune. He added that the home department has issued the suspension orders.

Initially, show-cause notices were served to Superintendent Mohsin Rafique, Additional Superintendent Ishtiaq and Deputy Superintendent Ghulam Sarwar Sumra, but they failed to file a satisfactory reply.

Earlier, another four officials, Assistant Superintendent Sardar Ahmed, Chief Chakar Shaukat, Head Warder Ehsan and Warder Safdar were suspended. According to notification new postings have also been made.

Caretaker Home Minister Tariq Pervez said that he has ordered a judicial inquiry into the fatal attack on Sarabjit.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2013.