Detained in Pak for 9 months, ex-jawan glad to be home

Singh along with a group of 39 Sikhs was returning from a pilgrimage in Pakistan on April 1, 2010, when some men in plainclothes from ISI whisked him away to an undisclosed destination.

"As I was sitting in the train on my way back to India, some one called me and I came down. Some more men came and took me to a room near the railway station and grilled me. The train left for India. I was blind folded and taken to some underground place", Singh said.

"They are seeking details from me about defence places? I was subjected to third degree torture?", he said, adding, "I told them I have come to Pakistan only for pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib and was an ex-serviceman".

"As I was fed of the months-long torture, I posed as a mentally ill person. They took me to a doctor and checked me but I continued to pose as mad". He was released by Pakistani authorities near the Wagah border on January 4.

"I am re-born. It is my second life. I never thought I will be again with my family here", an emotionally charged Singh said, adding, "I will never visit Pakistan again not even for a pilgrimage".

His family back home had lodged a missing report and launched a campaign to trace him writing to the Prime Minister, the Human Rights Commission, the International Red Cross and even the Pakistani High Commission seeking its intervention.

His homecoming was celebrated not only by his wife Kuldeep Kour and children Navjot Singh, Jagjeet Singh and Lojot Singh, but also the entire hamlet in R S Pura border belt.

"My dream has come true. We had lost hope of his return to his family here", Kour said as tears well up in her eyes.

"We will all go to the Golden Temple and thank God for reuniting Amar Singh with us", she said.