M A I N   N E W S

Vikas freed, back home
Varinder Walia and Pawan Kumar

Wagah, July 5
The ordeal of the globetrotting Indian cyclist, who had gone on a world peace mission ended this evening as he touched his motherland after 14 years.

The summit between Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Gen Pervez Musharraf to be held after nine days at Agra came as a blessing in disguise when Mr Vajpayee personally intervened to secure the release of Vikas Singh as a ‘goodwill gesture’.

Vikas Singh, a resident of Lucknow had launched his ‘peace mission’ in 1987 when he was flagged off from India Gate.

Before landing himself in Central Jail, Peshawar (Pakistan), on April 13 for entering without a valid visa, he had covered over 60 countries on cycle.

Unmindful of the disturbed law and order situation in Afghanistan, Vikas Singh propagated his mission in the terrorist-prone areas too.

The countries covered by Vikas Singh include Nepal, Bhutan, Hong Kong, China, Russia, Norway, Poland, Germany, France, Vietnam, Switzerland, Romania, Slovania and Afghanistan.

Vikas Singh tried to conceal any ‘inhuman treatment’ meted out to him by the jail authorities in Pakistan as he answered the queries of journalists in a diplomatic way. He did not admit straightaway that he was tortured in jail. After repeated queries, Vikas Singh stated, “You see, after all a jail is jail”.

When asked whether his mission of ‘world peace’ was successful, he said if he was in India after covering a number of countries, you (media persons) must describe it as successful.

Vikas was not ready to entertain any question about his interrogation. He simply said that he would disclose everything to interrogators.

As his cycle was in a bad shape, he insisted upon the authorities to get it repaired so that he could reach his hometown Lucknow while cycling. He said he was in touch with his family till he was jailed by Pakistan.

Looking cool and calm, Vikas said that he was misguided by the Taliban to reach India through Pakistan though he did not possess a valid visa. Vikas said before going to Lucknow, he would go to India Gate on cycle from where he had launched his mission.

His father Dr Surinder Singh said that he was very happy to hear that his son had reached India safe. He said he would meet his son on the way to Delhi. His family members who were not sure about the route of his entering India could not reach Wagah to receive him.

Lieut-Col Changez Ali Khan of Pakistani Rangers handed over Vikas Singh to Deputy Inspector-General, Mr Hemmat Prohit, at zero line at 4.50 p.m.

Vikas Singh said he could roam freely in the trouble-torn Afghanistan. However, the jail sentence disappointed him as he could not have a proper glimpse of Pakistan. Immediately after his release from Peshawar Jail, he was escorted to Wagah under tight security. He came to know about the probability of his release from Peshawar Jail on June 29.