Pakistan to return Sarabjit’s belongings

A number of small articles of personal use such as his cup, spoon, plate, clothes, shoes and some books which included the Quran, are being sent back.

The Pakistan government will hand over belongings of Sarabjit Singh, who died after his prison inmates assaulted him with bricks in Lahore central jail in April, to India.

A spokesperson of the Interior Ministry told The Hindu that the government was planning to send Sarabjit’s belongings after a request was made by the Indian authorities some months ago. The jail authorities told The Hindu over the phone that some of his belongings such as cup, spoon, plate, clothes, shoes and books, including the Quran, were sent to the Ministry last week.

Since he was serving a death sentence, he was not doing any prison work, the jail authorities said. There was no money that was being sent back.

Sarabjit was in jail for over 20 years after he was convicted of terrorism charges. His family had contested this saying he had strayed into Pakistan and it was a case of mistaken identity.

After his death in May, his sister Dalbir Kaur demanded that the Pakistan government return his belongings and clothes and a personal diary, which she wanted to preserve in his memory.