Suspected Pak national dies in jail

From: Outlookindia.com, UK - 08 Jan 2003

AMRITSAR, JAN 8 (PTI)

An unidentified deaf, dumb and illiterate Pakistani national undergoing one year sentence in the Central Jail here died in a local hospital today, a prison spokesman said.

The condition of the 60-year-old prisoner started deterioratng last night and he could not narrate his problem well in time due to his inherent disability, the spokesman said.

But the jail medical officer, during his routine round, found him exceptionally ill and advised to shift him to hospital where breathed his last after the few hours, he said.

He was arrested by police near the Indo-Pak border when he crossed over to the Indian Territory without any valid passport recently.

Police tried in vain to elicit information from the border trespasser, since he was deaf, dumb and illiterate, the spokesman said.

"Even his nationAlity is doubtful, but he was safely assumed to be a Pakistani from the place where he was apprehended and on the basis of the statements by some Pak nationals, languishing in the Amritsar jail, who identified him as Pak resident" he said.

The spokesman said the death of the Pakistani national has put the jail authorities in typical circumstances since as per the law, the body has to be handed over to the Pakistan Government to be delivered to his family members for performing his last rites.

Amritsar jail authorities have already moved the External Affairs Ministry, which would subsequently pass the message to Pakistan Embassy. Photograph of the national has already been sent to the Ministry to be given to the Embassy for identification of his antecedents.

The spokesman said in case no response comes within a week the last rites of the deceased would be performed as per the Muslim traditions here in the presence of other Pakistan nationals lodged in the central jail here.

©Hathway Investments Private Limited 2002