Amritsar, September 16
A Bollywood-style scene was enacted at the local Dr Vidya Sagar Government Mental Hospital today when two families claimed to be the relatives of Daya Ram, a middle-aged Indian who was recently released from Pakistan. He lost his mental equilibrium due to suspected excessive torture by the Pakistani jail authorities while serving his sentence.
Armed with a letter of the Deputy Commissioner, two district officials of Ghaziabad (UP) landed in the hospital to take possession of Daya Ram on behalf of a family of Jagdishpur village in Sidharthnagar district.
Meanwhile, a family from Ferozepur Bangar village of Sonepat district (Haryana) arrived to claim his possession. This put the hospital authorities in a quandary and mediapersons were called to record the matter.
Mr D.P. Singh and Mr A.K. Jha, SDM and DSP of Ghaziabad, respectively, said a family of Jagdishpur village after viewing Daya Ram in a news channel claimed that he belonged to them. Subsequently, the Uttar Pradesh Government directed them to bring him back home on humanitarian grounds.
Mr Albel Singh (70) of Sonepat said Daya Ram’s face resembled his own face. He produced Daya Ram’s photograph clicked about 38 years ago. Besides, he said, he knew that Daya Ram’s name was tattooed on his arm but did not know about the presence of a flower.
He said Daya Ram was the youngest among the seven brothers and sisters and was working with the Army.
Ms Moorti Devi, claiming to be the wife of Daya Ram, said she could not recognise him despite remaining with him for two hours. She recalled that in 1968 when she was three months pregnant, they received a letter from the Army authorities informing that her husband had died. She does not remember where her husband was posted at that time. She added that his body was not handed over to them.
Dr
B.L. Goyal, Director, Mental Hospital, said he had written a letter to the Deputy commissioner that two families were claiming Daya Ram to be their relative. Hence, he could be discharged only when his family members were not identified.
