Surjeet Singh's family in Punjab delighted to hear of his release

Ferozpur (Punjab), June 27 (ANI): Celebrations began at Indian prisoner Surjeet Singh's hometown here after Pakistani authorities announced that they were taking steps for his release from prison after a long gap of 30 years.

Surjeet's son, Kulvinder Singh, said he was thrilled to hear news about his father's release, as he was merely three years old when his father was imprisoned.

"We got to know about our father, when another prisoner was freed from the Lahore jail. He told us that my father was in the jail. He gave us a letter that my father had written, following which we began pressing for his release. We are very thrilled; I was only three years old when he had gone," he said.

Surjeet's wife, Harbans Kaur, said that they were pressing for his release after receiving a letter from him, and added that the whole family is eagerly waiting to meet him.

"We received a letter from him, following which we began pressing for his release. We are very happy that he is going to be released; in fact, even his children and grandchildren are dying to meet him. We had no idea if he was alive or not. We only got to know once we received the letter," she said.

Hours after reports emerged that Pakistan was to free Sarabjit Singh, the presidential spokesman clarified last night that the authorities had taken steps for the release of another Indian prisoner named Surjeet Singh.

Surjeet Singh, currently being held in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, has been in Pakistani captivity for over 30 years. He was captured near the border with India on charges of spying during the era of military ruler Zia-ul-Haq. (ANI)