State beefs up security for Pakistani prisoners

Following Sarabjit Singh's death in Pakistan's Kot Lakhpat Jail and subsequent reactions by people in the country and across the border, the state government has been forced to take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of Pakistani nationals lodged in state prisons. The state has decided to beef up security in order to avoid any untoward incident, Home Minister R R Patil said yesterday.

Expressing wrath: Youth Congress members burn a Pakistani flag and an effigy of President Asif Ali Zardari after the death of Sarabjit Singh who was beaten up by inmates in a Pakistani jail. Pic/Bipin Kokate

Jail authorities have been warned against disclosing the identities of prisoners or provide an exact figure of Pakistani nationals who are serving their term in state prisons.

The state government has taken necessary steps to prevent retaliation by other prisoners, said the home minister. Patil declined to reveal the exact number of Pakistani prisoners across the state.

However, sources said at least two have been convicted and are undergoing punishments. The state home department swung into action immediately after the news of Punjab resident Sarabjit's death on Thursday morning. A review meeting was conducted and the message was passed on to jails wherever Pakistani prisoners were located.u00a0