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| Sepoy Ram Dass |
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| Mrs Satya Kaur holding a photograph of her husband Sepoy Mangal Singh with her two sons sitting on either side of her; Mr Daljit Singh (right) and Mr Baljinder Singh (left) |
was not a fisherman. It is alleged that Mr Uddin spent 24 years in Kot Lakphat Prison. Mr Uddin maintains that he was 12 years of age (!) when he was arrested by the Pakistani authorities.
Mr Uddin produced a list drafted by a fellow Indian national unlawfully detained in Pakistan by the name of Mr Kuldip Kumar who has already completed his "sentence" however some six yours on, he continues to remain unlawfully detained in Kot Lakphat Prison, Lahore in Pakistan without an explanation from either the Indian or Pakistani authorities.
This list contains the names of 13 prisoners, 14 including Mr Kuldip Singh. 'Mr Mangal Singh' and 'Mr Ram Dass'. Following the news report in 'Jag Bani' Amritsar prompted the respective families of Sepoy Mangal Singh and Sepoy Ram Dass contact Jag Bani.
Sepoy Mangal Singh's family claim that Mr Mangal Singh who's name appears on Mr Kuldip Kumar's list is Sepoy Mangal Singh who was in the Indian Army was captured by the Pakistani army during the Indo-Pak war in 1971.
Mrs Satya Kaur (the wife of Sepoy Mangal Singh) alleges that on the 25th of January 1972 at 4:15pm Mrs Satya Kaur recalls that she was listening to a radio programme about Indian PoWs and she heard her husband Sepoy Mangal Singh being interviewed. Mrs Satya Kaur recalls that Sepoy Mangal Singh confirmed his name and his Army number: 2447645 of the Punjab Regiment. He also confirmed the names of their sons; Daljit Singh and Baljinder Singh. Mrs Satya Kaur reported this information to the Indian authorities but nobody would believe her since the Indian Army continue to maintain that Sepoy Mangal Singh had died in action.
Mrs Kumari maintains that her husband Sepoy Ram Dass 1285580 Nentan Regiment was captured by the Pakistani Army during the Indo-Pak War in the 1970's. The list refers to 'Ram Dass son of Bilja'; Mrs Kumari maintains that 'Bilja' was the name of her late father-in-law. Like Mrs Satya Kaur, Mrs Kumari was also informed by the Indian authorities that Sepoy Ram Dass had died in action during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
Mr Kuldip Kumar reports that most of the prisoners on the list he has provided are suffering from mental health problems. It appears that these prisoners have been denied the right to medical assessment, treatment as well as being denied access to Consular service as well as access to legal advice. This is a gross abuse and serious breach of human rights. All of these prisoners require urgent help and support.
Regardless of whether these prisoners are Indian Army Officers or civilians, they should all (including Mr Kuldip Kumar) be released forthwith. These prisoners are currently being unlawfully detained by the Pakistani authorities.
If it is established that Mr Mangal Singh and Mr Ram Dass are indeed prisoners of War then their respective detention amounts to war crimes. These prisoners ought to be treated as Prisoners of War as defined under the Geneva Convention and to be afforded the protection and rights stipulated under the Convention.
These cases have been reported to the offices of Mr Salman Khurshid’s India’s Minister of External Affairs, UN, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, each of whom have acknowledged receipt.Court papers have been prepared in relation to each case and these will be handed to lawyer in Pakistan to annex to petitions to be issued in the Lahore High Court seeking an Order for these prisoners to be released with immediate effect.
Further information:
http://www.timesnow.tv/videoshow/4415451.cms
http://epaper.punjabijagran.com/c/526752
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-09-01/chandigarh/27949983_1_pak-jail-indo-pak-pakistan-army
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-19/india/35204490_1_pak-jail-indian-prisoner-indian-pows
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/UK-based-advocate-writes-to-Sheikh-to-file-petition-for-release-of-prisoners-of-war/articleshow/17281501.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Families-of-two-Punjabi-Prisoners-of-War-approach-UK-based-lawyer-for-their-release/articleshow/17270179.cms
http://epaper.punjabkesari.in/punjab/fullstory/31447146_252206#.ULO8DGHo2PY.email
http://jagbani.in/Amritsar/fullstory/30101122_66658#.UGjzW47w42E.email
