Author: Yudhvir Rana
Publication: Times of India
Date: August 31, 2003
The Pakistani government released
19-year-old Ranjit Kumar on Saturday and handed him over to Border Security
Force officials at the Wagah border. Ranjit had inadvertently crossed over
to Pakistan from his village Karyali Brahmana in Jam-mu district in June
1999.
Visibly moved and trembling with
gratitude ('God be thanked'), Ranjit told media persons that it was "not
the governments but common people like him who were bearing the brunt of
bitter relations between India and Pakistan." Ranjit saw the miserable
condition of Indian prisoners languishing in various jails in Pakistan.
"Many of them have become mentally challenged since and have almost given
up any hope getting released," Ranjit said.
Ranjit, who has studied up till
ninth standard, said that on June 17,1999 he had inadvertently crossed
over to Pakistan from his village near the Abdal post.
