Death of Sarbjit invites strong reactions against Pak

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 2: Anguished over the death of Indian prisoner Sarbjit Singh in a Lahore hospital after murderous attack on him at Kot Lakhpat Jail in Pakistan, various organizations urged the Government of India to take strong action against the neighbouring country for its hostile activities.
A number of protest demonstrations against Pakistan and condolence meetings for paying tributes to Sarbjit Singh were held today across Jammu.
Several Panthers Party activists held a strong protest in front of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi condemning Pak leadership and the ISI for the brutal and outrageous murder of Sarbjit Singh.  Prof Bhim Singh, patron of National Panthers Party urged the President of Pakistan to bring the culprits to justice who have been guilty of outrageous murder of a helpless prisoner inside the condemned cell.  He also urged the Prime Minister of India to take up this matter before the Criminal Court of United Nations to seek justice. The Panthers Party leader warned that the party would move the International Court of Justice in Hague in case Indian leadership failed.
In Jammu, JKNPP activities staged a protest demonstration in front of Press Club, Jammu
under the leadership of S Daljit Singh and torched an effigy of Pakistan Government  to protest against the custodial death of Sarbjit Singh and ill treatment meted out to the Indian national in Pakistan in violation of international law and Human Right.
To pray for peace to the departed soul of Sarbjit Singh, State BJP held a condolence meet at party headquarters. Speaking on the occasion, Jugal Kishore held the Central Government responsible for the killing of Sarbjit Singh. He said that the soft foreign policy towards Pakistan has encouraged the neighbouring country to even indulge in cold blooded murder of Indian citizens. Leader of Legislature Party Ashok Khajuria said that had the Union Government in 1971 and thereafter taken tough stand on all issues related with Pakistan, the situation would have been different.
Expressing condolence over the death of Sarbjit Singh, J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu appealed the Government of India to take immediate steps for appropriate help to family of the deceased and action against Pakistan. A meeting of the Bar Association was held under the chairmanship of M K Bhardwaj who held Pakistan Government responsible for murder of Sarbjit Singh.
The worker of the Dogra Front and Shiv Sena Jammu & Kashmir under the leadership of Ashok Gupta took out a procession in Jammu city to convey their condolence to Sarbjit’s family and anger against the UPA Government. They were wearing black clothes and carrying candles.  Mr Gupta termed the Sarbjit’s killing as a cold blooded murder and said that it was time to take strict action against Pakistan. He also
demanded an independent probe by an international agency into the circumstances leading to death of Sarbjit Singh in Pakistan.
To pay tributes to Sarbjit Singh, all religions prayer march was organized from Shiromani Dera Nagali Sahib, Diagaina Ashram.  The participants offered prayers at Peer Baba Satwari, St Mary’s Cathedral Church, Gandhi Nagar and Shri Maa Kali, Bahu Fort, Bawe.
Various Sikh organizations convened a meeting under the chairmanship of Sikh United Front president Sudershan Singh Wazir and prayed for peace to departed soul of Sarbjit Singh. The meet strongly condemned Pakistan for its role in attack on Sarbjit and also criticized the Government of India for taking no action against the neighbouring country. The Sikh representatives also urged the Government to compensate the bereaved family.
Youth Congress activists held an emergency meeting under the chairmanship of Manjit Singh Jatt, state general secretary, for expressing deep anguish over the death of Sarbjit Singh and condemning the role of Pakistan Government. The meet stressed that the Government of India should build pressure on Pakistan for international level investigation into the killing of Sarbjit Singh. Security to other Indians in Pak jails and Hindu-Sikh families in the neighbouring country was also demanded.
Kandi Ekta Manch took out a protest march holding Pakistan Government responsible for cold blooded murder of Sarbjit Singh. The Manch appealed Government of India to take hard steps against Pakistan and teach the neighbouring country a lesson. The march was taken out on the National Highway at Rajbagh Kathua.
District Youth Wing of Jammu Kashmir Democratic Front took out a torch rally expressing solidarity with the family of Sarbjit Singh. Led by Rohit Kerni, the torch rally took off from Gole Pully and after passing through various bazaars of the area, culminated at Talab Tillo Chowk. Participants in the rally were raising slogans against Pakistan and demanding stern action by the Government of India.
Various organizations of Poonch organized a joint march and demonstration in the town to lodge their protest against Pakistan for murder of Sarbjit Singh. They also torched Pakistani flag and an effigy of UPA Government alleging that New Delhi was equally responsible for the death of Sarbjit Singh. People from all walks of life participated in the protest.
In Udhampur, BJP activists paid rich tributes to Sarbjit Singh and demanded that the Government of India should declare the deceased as martyr. Chairing the meeting, BJP State secretary Pawan Gupta and Raj Kumar Buccha stressed that India should expose Pakistan before the International forums and declare the neighbouring country a terrorist state.
Reasi Sangharsh Samiti took out a candle march in the town and prayed for peace to the departed soul of Sarbjit Singh. The Samiti activists also raised slogans against Pakistan and appealed Government of India to teach the neighbouring country a lesson for its rouge activities.