Pak govt killed Sarabjit, alleges his former jail inmate

It is not destiny, but the Pakistan government which claimed the life of Sarabjit Singh, according to a resident of Ahmednagar, who spent time with him in Lahore jail, and was released last year.

"Sarabjit was homesick. He longed to return to India," Bhanudas Karale, who was released from Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore on June 15 last year, said.

Karale was arrested for accidentally straying into the Pakistani territory on August 28, 2010. "He was a very kind-hearted person. He behaved nicely not only with Indian prisoners, but also with Pakistani inmates," Karale told PTI from Ahmednagar.  "But Pakistani prisoners used to trouble us," he added.

Karale said he was shocked to hear of Sarabjit's death after an assault on him in jail. "I was in the same jail with Sarabjit but the Pakistani authorities had imposed severe restrictions on him, considering him a spy," he said.

"It was not destiny but the Pakistan government, which claimed his life," Karale said. "When we were released, Sarabjit was very happy.

He also longed to be home. Actually, he should have been released before us, but that did not happen, and he lost his life due to the lack of communication and coordination between India and Pakistan authorities," Karale said.