Back from Pak jail after 27 yrs, man ties the knot

The marriage ceremony was held at was a simple ceremony, with only close relatives and friends being part of the celebrations. The 52-year-old, alleged to be a spy, got married to 38-year-old Pinky from Shimla.

“I am happy to be getting married. I had not thought this would also happen one day. This is all fate,” Gopal told media persons after the ceremony.

The marriage was solemnised at a gurdwara (Sikh shrine) in the neighbouring Panchkula town of Haryana, 15 km from here.

“This is an arranged marriage and we wanted to keep it a low profile affair,” a visibly happy Gopal’s elder brother Anand Veer Dass said, even as he tried to control tears of joy.
The family will host a reception for friends and relatives at Chandimandir, near here, on Sunday evening.

Gopal Dass was only 25 when he was arrested in Pakistan in 1984 and jailed on the charge of spying. He spent the next 27 years in that country in various jails. Already set to be released by the end of this year, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari announced on March 27 that he would be let off on humanitarian grounds - ahead of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza
Gilani’s visit to Mohali to watch the India-Pakistan World Cup semifinal on  March 30.

After his release, Gopal had criticised the Indian government and security agencies for not making any effort to secure his release.