Bhikhiwind, August 25
To express solidarity with Sarabjit Singh, who is awaiting execution in Pakistan, businessmen and traders of this border town, downed shutters to observe a day-long bandh, here today.
Meanwhile, Ms Dalbir Kaur, a sister of Sarabjit, returned here after meeting senior leaders of various political parties in New Delhi. Representatives of various political parties, including from the Congress, Mr Tejpreet Singh Peter, Mr Virsa Singh Valtoha, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and Mr Gurjatinder Singh Bhikhiwind of SAD (Amritsar), along with the family members of Sarabjit Singh launched a signature campaign. The campaign would be sent to the Pakistan authorities urging them to release him. They would reach Wagah Joint Check Post tomorrow at the time of the Retreat Ceremony to attract the attention of Pakistani people who also throng the border to see the ceremony every evening. Residents of Bhikhiwind would carry placards to request their Pakistani counterparts to prevail upon General Pervez Musharraf for granting clemency to Sarabjit Singh who was given death sentence due to mistaken identity.
On the other hand the family members of the youths of Kalsian village, a few km from Pakistan border, who are currently lodged in Pakistan jails, see a ray of hope for their early release following the Indian media picking up the case of the Indians languishing in various jails of Pakistan even after completion of their sentence.
They said that the families of all boys, languishing in Pakistan’s jails were repenting their decision to send them abroad. They could have earned much more in their own country. The border village Kalsian in the Khalra sector, near the zero line, was closer to Lahore than Amritsar. However, they could not meet their imprisoned sons in the Lahore jail, which was only 26 km from here while the distance of Amritsar was almost double. Following decreasing of job opportunities, farmers of this belt had started exploring the new vistas by going abroad, even at the risk of their lives.
Mr Shabeg Singh, a resident of Kalsian father of Gurdev Singh (20), said that the family owned 12 acres of land, some of which were across the border fencing. He said his son had gone to Lebanon through a local agent, who was also a government servant. However, after successfully landing in Lebanon, his son and another boy from the same village tried to cross over to Greece and were caught on the way. He alleged that the ‘fake agent’ in Lebanon had duped the gullible Punjabi youth. He said his son had insisted on going abroad though he had advised his son against this move.
The situation of another boy Inderjit Singh (18) was worse. His family owned only one-acre agricultural land and his parents had to take a loan of Rs 2 lakh which they, were now unable to return. His mother said that the economic condition of the family was pitiable and that was why they had agreed to send their son abroad. She said many Punjabi youths underwent nightmarish experience in Lebanon jail though they were feeling better off in Pakistan’s jail.
