Chicago – September 07, 2024
On Saturday, the Indian government sent 14 Pakistani prisoners back home, including 2 young people. They had finished serving their time in prison and were let go through the Attari-Wagah border. These prisoners were held in jails in Gujarat and Amritsar.
The group from Gujarat had 8 people, with 2 young boys who were caught in 2022 for fishing in Indian waters. In Amritsar, there were 6 prisoners, including 4 who were caught smuggling by the Border Security Force. They had 2 kg of heroin and two guns when they were arrested. Also, 2 other prisoners had accidentally crossed from Pakistan into India.
The prisoners, now free, spoke to reporters and said they were happy to be going home. They also asked both countries to let fishermen go home sooner if they accidentally enter the other’s waters while fishing. One young boy, Gulam Mustafa, mentioned he was only 13 when he was arrested. Another prisoner, Abdula Sharmili, pointed out that many fishermen are still in jail even though they have finished their sentences and should be released quickly.
