New Delhi:
Official Spokesperson's response to query on the incident involving a Pakistani prisoner
May 03, 2013
In response to a query on the incident involving a Pakistani prisoner, the Official Spokesperson said:
"We are aware of the regrettable incident involving a Pakistani prisoner, Sanaullah Ranjay, who was injured today during an altercation with another inmate of a jail in Jammu.
The matter is being investigated and the guilty will be punished. As you are aware an advisory had been issued to strengthen security for Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails. Safety and security of prisoners in custody lies with the jail authorities and necessary action is being taken.
We are in touch with the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi on the matter. The injured is receiving medical treatment and once the medical arrangements are in place consular access will be provided.
There are 535 Indian prisoners (including 483 fishermen) in Pakistani jails and a total of 272 Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails.
We had requested the joint Judicial Committee to visit jails in Pakistan. This was the Committee's sixth meeting and they have made some recommendations.
In view of the tragic events that include the killing of two Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails and the incident involving a Pakistani prisoner in a jail in Jammu today there is a need to take stock of the current measures in place to ensure the safety, security and humane treatment of Indian and Pakistani prisoners in each others jails. For this, we are proposing a meeting of the concerned authorities of both countries to study the recommendations and identify and put in place further measures to avoid such tragic incidents in future."