Crossed border 85 times: Surjeet

RA&W revelations

Even as the Union government has outrightly rubbished claims of Surjeet Singh, the Punjab-based Indian prisoner, who was recently released from Pakistan jail after 30 years, for allegedly being a RA&W agent, Singh remains unfazed and has now claimed that he crossed the border to Pakistan at least 85 times before he was finally arrested.

Notwithstanding the veracity of his contention, Surjeet’s emphatic claims could perhaps discomfort the Indian authorities even more given that Pakistan has already sought an apology from India for sending across a “spy” to Pakistan. Surjeet’s post return posturing, where he’s probably claiming much more than he can chew, has also invited criticism from Dalbir Kaur, the sister of Sarabjit Singh, another Indian prisoner in Pakistan jail. Kaur, who on Wednesday met AICC president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi to seek her intervention for her brother’s release, says Surjeet’s uncorroborated assertions, like the one where he said Sarabjit has converted into Islam in Pakistan jail, could jeopardize the stay and release of other Indian prisoners who are languishing in Pakistan jails.

Meanwhile, Surjeet’s home in his village in Punjab has hogged the limelight ever since his homecoming last week. He’s richer by at least Rs 3.5 lakh, which includes Rs 1 lakh given by the Punjab government as aid and the remaining by well-wishers and friends. Surjeet said among his employers were RAW, BSF and the Army.

Claiming that he fetched several important documents from Pakistan for the Indian intelligence officials, Surjeet  said that he used to sport a clean-shaven look every time he crossed the border to Pakistan.

Annoyed over the indifference allegedly on the part of his “employers” to take care of his family while he was languishing in jail, Surjeet says he’s meeting lawyers to move court to seek compensation for his “sacrifice”. According to him, there are still about 20-22 Indian prisoners in Pakistan’s Kot Lakhpat jail.