Can there be a bigger tragedy than this? 65-year-old Hasina Begum, who spent 17 long years in a Pakistani jail and returned to her hometown in Aurangabad district a fortnight ago, passed away on Tuesday.
On her return on 26 January, coinciding with India's Republic Day, she was accorded a grand welcome by her relatives and friends.
She passed away from a heart attack. “This is really sad. Hasina Begum, who returned from Pakistan's prison after 17 years on 26th January, passed away,” veteran peace activist Jatin Desai said.
Hasina Begum had suffered several tragedies in her life.
She was married to one Dilshad Ahmed Shaikh of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh who died while she was in a Pakistani jail.
In 2004 she went alone to Pakistan by train to meet her husband’s relatives living in Lahore. However, after reaching there, she lost or misplaced her passport. To make matters worse, she could not trace any relatives of her husband.
She was arrested by the Pakistan police on charges of spying and put in jail.
Nearly a year ago, the Aurangabad Police, through the Ministry of External Affairs, sent a report to Pakistan confirming that Hasina Begum was resident of Rashidpura under the jurisdiction of City Chowk police station. She was released subsequently.
On her return here, she found that a land that she brought two decades ago, had been encroached. She even approached authorities for help.
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