Pakistan says Kirpal Singh died of heart attack as India takes up issue

Pakistan today informed India that Indian inmate Kirpal Singh died of a heart attack at a jail in Lahore two days back after the issue of his mysterious death was taken up with the Pakistani authorities even as the government said it was awaiting further details in the case. 

India’s Acting High Commissioner J P Singh met Director General (South Asia) in Pakistan Foreign Ministry in Islamabad following a directive from the Indian government in connection with death of Kirpal Singh, who was languishing for nearly 25 years in jail in connection with a serial blasts case there. (Also Read: Indian prisoner Kirpal Singh dies in Pakistan’s Kot Lakhpat Jail)

“According to government of Pakistan, Shri Kirpal Singh died on April 11 at 1455 hours due to heart attack. We await further details,” Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup said. He said India’s Acting High Commissioner has also requested the Pakistan Foreign Ministry official for earliest possible repatriation of mortal remains of Kirpal Singh.

50-year-old Kirpal Singh was languishing in a Pakistani jail for nearly 25 years on spying charges. He had allegedly crossed over to Pakistan through Wagah border in 1992 and was arrested. He was subsequently sentenced to death in a serial bomb blasts case in Pakistan’s Punjab province. Kirpal Singh, who hailed from Gurdaspur, was reportedly acquitted of charges related to bomb blasts by the Lahore High Court but his death sentence could not be commuted due to unknown reasons.

Jagir Kaur, Kirpal’s sister, earlier said the family could not raise voice for his release due to financial constraints and no politician came forward to plead his case. The government asked India’s acting envoy to seek a meeting with the Pakistan Foreign Office in connection with Kirpal’s death under mysterious circumstances and seek early transfer of the mortal remains.

“On Kirpal Singh, our acting high commissioner in Islamabad has been instructed to seek a meeting at the highest possible level in Pakistan Foreign Office this forenoon to seek early transportation of Singh’s mortal remains,” Swarup said earlier.