New Delhi: A “deeply saddened” Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Thursday condoled the passing way of Sarabjit Singh and termed him a brave son of India.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing away of Sarabjit Singh. He was a brave son of India who bore his tribulations with valiant fortitude,” the Prime Minister said in a statement.
He demanded that “the criminals responsible for the barbaric and murderous attack on Sarabjit must be brought to justice”. He regretted that the Pakistan government had not heeded the pleas of the Indian government to take a humanitarian view in the case.
Meanwhile, the death of Sarabjit Singh in a Lahore hospital days was “put simply, the killing of our citizen while in the custody of Pakistan jail authorities”, the External Affairs ministry said on Thursday.
In a statement, the ministry said India has asked Pakistan to “release the body of Sarabjit Singh so that he can be given a funeral in India “.
It said the “shocking attack” on Singh in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail April 26 “highlights the need for concerted action by Pakistan to safeguard Indians in Pakistani jails”. (Agencies)
