A Pakistani prisoner in a jail in Indian-held Kashmir was brutally attacked today confirming the worst fears of retaliation by Indian authorities after Sarabjit Singh. The Pakistani prisoner, Sanaullah serving jail term in Central Jail Kot Balwal, Jammu suffered serious head injuries after being attacked in an Indian jail in apparent tit-for-tat violence. This attack is feared to be state-sponsored because after Sarabjit incidence, the jail authorities in India should have more vigilant about the security of Pakistani prisoner. The injured prisoner is reported to have been admitted in GMC Hospital with grievous head injuries.
Pakistani media always hungry for breaking news is still ignorant about this incident.
Sanaullah was attacked early in the morning by other inmates a day after India’s home ministry ordered stepped-up security for hundreds of Pakistanis in Indian prisons. On Thursday, Sarabjit Singh, an Indian in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat prison, who was jailed 16 years ago for spying and deadly bombings, died as a result of a savage assault by inmates. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned that “barbaric and murderous attack” and New Delhi complained that its diplomats were denied access to the prisoner as he fought for his life.
Sarabjit Singh is to be cremated with state honors near his native village in northwestern Punjab state on Friday. His family will be paid compensation of one crore Indian rupees. He is being given hero’s status for serving Indian establishment’s designs of destabilizing Pakistan.
Jammu: 12:52 pm: India has proposed talks with Pakistan on the issue of prisoners in both the countries. This came as India regretted the attack on Sanaullah Haq in the Kot Bhalwal Jail. “The attack on Sanaullah is regrettable. He is being attended to. It’s necessary that prisoners be treated humanly in jails,” MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said. 12:40 pm: India has regretted the attack on Sanaullah Haq. The Ministry of External Affairs said that Pakistan will get consular access to Sanaullah. 12:27 pm: The condition of Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Haq is deteriorating and his vitals are being checked, say sources. He is not likely to be shifted to PGI, Chandigarh, as of now.
******12:16 pm: Pakistan said it was not satisfied with the security provided to Pakistani prisoners in India. Pakistan High Commission spokesperson Mazoor Memon said, “We are not satisfied with the security provided. We could have avoided an incident such as this.”
12:05: Reacting to the attack on Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Haq in Jammu’s Kotbhalwal Jail, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah said, “Sarabjit died, Sanaullah will not die.” He also said that there is anger in the country over Sarabjit’s death, but ‘we should control our anger’. “There is tremendous anger over Sarabjit. So some prisoners will be attacked, not justifying it. We are controlling our anger as best as we can,” Farooq Abdullah said. 11:39 am: The Pakistan High Commission has taken up the attack on Sanaullah Haq with the Ministry of External Affairs and has sought consular access. Pakistan has sought a detailed report on the incident. A day after Indian convict Sarabjit Singh died of a cardiac arrest in a Pakistan hospital following an assault by his fellow inmates in a Lahore jail, a Pakistani prisoner was beaten up by other inmates in a Jammu jail on Friday. The prisoner Sanaullah Haq was attacked by his fellow inmates in a cell of Central Jail Kotbhalwal on Friday morning. The Pakistani prisoner is reported to have been severely injured and has been admitted to Jammu’s government medical college. Officials says he is in the ICU and could be shifted to Chandigarh. An inquiry has also been ordered into the incident. Speaking to CNN-IBN J&K Home Minister Sajjad Kichloo said, “This is unfortunate. I have directed Principal Secretary, Home, to initiate an inquiry.” He also said that the Jail Superintendent Rajni Sehgal and other staff have been suspended. Explaining the incident, CNN-IBN National Security Analyst Praveen Swami said, “An Indian prisoner, Vinod Kumar, attacked Sanaullah following an argument inside the jail. Vinod attacked Sanaullah with an axe. Sanaullah got severely injured at the right side of the head and his chest.” Sanaullah Haq has suffered serious injuries in his right temporal lobe region and the prognosis is not great. Sources say the two were seen smoking beedis together during fatigues break before Kumar attacked Haq with pickaxe, sources say. A case of assault was registered against Vinod Kumar, an ex-serviceman who is also serving a life term in the jail in the outskirts of Jammu. Kumar hails from Uttarakhand. He was court-martialled for murder and recently moved to Kot Bhalwal from Leh. Sanaullah was arrested on April 1999 in connection with five cases related to terror activities. Sanullah Haq, resident of Dallowali, Sialkot was convicted of a 1994 bus bombing in which 10 people were killed. The attack occurred ahead of Sarabjit’s funeral at his native village in Punjab. Following the death of 49-year-old Sarabjit in Pakistan, Union Home Ministry had issued advisories to all states for maintaining high vigil in jails and ensure there was no attack on any Pakistani prisoner lodged there. Excluding fishermen, there are about 220 Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails. A similar number of Indians are lodged in Pakistani jails. Following the incident the security of Pakistani prisoners lodged in jails in Uttar Pradesh has been beefed up. The state government has ordered that Pakistani prisoners be separated from Indian prisoners.
******There have been massive demonstrations across India following the murderous assault on Sarabjit, who died in the wee hours of Thursday in Lahore’s Jinnah Hospital.
This means either security was insufficient or authorities involved in this incident?******
Re: Guess why Pakistani media channels are blacking out this breaking news?
It is well established that life of a Pakistani civilian is much less valuable than any other country's civilian. Lets not make issues out of non-issues now.
Re: Guess why Pakistani media channels are blacking out this breaking news?
This is all driven by jingoistic Indian media. Just watch Indian tv & see what is going on on. Anyways, you won't see any Indian guppies commenting on this. They are silent now.
Re: Guess why Pakistani media channels are blacking out this breaking news?
This is all driven by jingoistic Indian media. Just watch Indian tv & see what is going on on. Anyways, you won't see any Indian guppies commenting on this. They are silent now.
The extremes to which Indian media goes and puts words into mouths of even their guests is amazing! "Pakistan kills Sarbjeet Singh" was the title of a recent debate.
Re: Guess why Pakistani media channels are blacking out this breaking news?
Because our news media depends on Indian media indirectly as most of the contents shown in our entertainment channels are either copied or borrowed and adapted from Indian media.
A backlash was already expected. But it's very telling to realize that Indian Jail authorities go the extra mile for their brethren and provide them with weapons. Common sense would have dictated that jail premises be free of any objects that can be used as a weapon in the light of recent events.
Sanaullah Haq will be in our prayers. May Allah have mercy on him.
What happened to all the chest thumping when Sarabjit was cruelly hit.
This incident of the Pakistani getting attacked is sad and action should be taken against the guilty. Jail superintendent has already been suspended and further action is being contemplated.
If you see sanaullah and sarabjit are same as far as their crimes are considered....one was on a death row other was a lifer...
Sarbhijeet was renowned name for Pakistanis, whereas this Sanaullah Haq we are hearing for the first time. May be, most of people on your side knew his name today. hence the remarks of no comparison by DA.
Having said the above, authorities on both sides of the border were equally failed to give security to prisoners. No need to be chest thumping and considering ones country more civilized than the other.