Heart attack killed Kirpal Singh, says Pakistan

The Indian national was languishing in a Pakistani jail for 25 years

New Delhi: Pakistan yesterday informed India that its inmate Kirpal Singh died of a heart attack at a jail in Lahore two days back after the issue of his mysterious death was taken up with the Pakistani authorities by India.

Jagir Kaur, Kirpal Singh’s sister, with his photo. Pic/PTI

India’s Acting High Commissioner J P Singh met Director General (South Asia) in Pakistan Foreign Ministry in Islamabad following a directive from the Indian government in connection with death of Kirpal Singh, who was languishing for nearly 25 years in jail in connection with a serial blasts case there. “According to government of Pakistan, Shri Kirpal Singh died on April 11 at 14:55 hours due to heart attack. We await further details,” Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup said.

He said India’s Acting High Commissioner has also requested the Pakistan Foreign Ministry official for earliest possible repatriation of mortal remains of Kirpal Singh. He had allegedly crossed over to Pakistan through Wagah border in 1992 and was arrested. He was subsequently sentenced to death in a serial bomb blasts case in Pakistan’s Punjab province. Kirpal was reportedly acquitted of charges related to bomb blasts by the Lahore High Court but his death sentence could not be commuted due to unknown reasons.

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