Author: Agencies
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: November 25, 2008
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/1972-shaheed-jawan-is-still-languishing-in-pak-jail/389981/
A 'martyred' jawan's family members had the
surprise of their life, when they knew that the armyman awarded Vir Chakra
'posthumously' is still alive and languishing in a Pakistani jail.
The sweetest of all news to jawan Subedar
Rajjab Ali's wife and son was shared by a released Indian prisoner of war
(PoW) in the 1972 Indo-Pak war, who is in Kolkatta now.
Mahboob Ilahi, released from Pakistan's Lakhpat
Kot jail a few days back, informed Anwar Ali, the soldier-son of Subedar Rajjab
Ali that his father was still alive - after seeing a photograph of the father
the son was cherishing for years. The duo met in Kolkatta, where Anwar is
stationed now.
Now efforts are on to facilitate the return
of the jawan lodged at the Lakhpat Kot jail in Pakistan's western province.
Rajjab Ali, then a Platoon Commander of Rajputana
Riffles, went missing in Kashmir during the war. He was declared a martyr
and was awarded Vir Chakra "posthumously."
The news that her husband was alive came as
a bolt from the blue for his 60-year-old wife Jannatul Nishan, a resident
of Bhoyein Kathar village of Sultanpur district.
Nishan said, "Last week my son Anwar
called me from Kolkatta and said Abba Zinda Hain (father is alive."
Today, Nishan along with other family members,
approached the Sultanpur district magistrate Vishal Rai and submitted a memorandum
requesting the Centre and state governments to initiate steps for his release.
Havildaar Mohammad Harun (70), a retired soldier
and member of Ali's platoon, said Ali was badly injured during an operation
at Titual sector in Kashmir on December 8, 1971.
Later they were asked to withdraw from there
and nothing was known about the subedar since.
