India moots talks with Pak on prisoners

Chandigarh (PTI): In view of the tragic events, including the killing of two Indians in Pakistani jails and the Sanaullah incident, India has proposed that the officials of the two countries meet and take forward the recommendations of a judicial committee on humane treatment of prisoners, he said. A Pakistani response to the proposal is awaited, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said. The Ministry is coordinating with the Pakistani authorities to complete the formalities to send back his body home. "Once the formalities are done, we will hand over the body," Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said here. Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said in Islamabad Pakistan was making arrangements to repatriate the body. "The brutal manner in which Sanaullah was attacked in the jail is most unfortunate and a matter of deep concern for the Government of Pakistan," he said. "We have conveyed our concern to the Government of India in this regard and demanded that an investigation into the incident be held and perpetrators of this heinous crime be brought to justice," he added. Shinde said India had not received any request with regard to an international probe into the attack on Sanaullah. "When we get any demand will be talk about it," he said. Sources in Delhi said a detailed post-mortem of Sanaullah was being done in Chandigarh and that the travel arrangements would be made as per the request made by Pakistan. Chandigarh's Home Secretary Anil Kumar said the body will be airlifted to Pakistan from the local airport. The government has been informed that Pakistan is arranging an aircraft to fly his body back home, the sources said, adding "If they arrange a non-military registered plane, the clearance would be prompt".

Omar apologises Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah offered "sincere apology" to the family of Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Ranjay. "Although it's a scant consolation, I'd like to offer a sincere apology to the family of Sanaullah and my sympathies for their loss," Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter. The State government has ordered an inquiry into the incident. "While the inquiry will fix responsibility for any dereliction of duty, the fact that this happened at all is a matter of great regret," Omar said.

Belongings sent with body The holy Quran was among 27 belongings of deceased Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Ranjay, which were sent back to Pakistan along with his body. A senior official of J&K prison department told PTI, "27 items belonging to Sanaullah have been sent to Chandigarh through a special messenger." The items include a Jai Nimaz (prayer rug), besides daily use items like his slippers, comb, brush and clothes, the officer said. These items were handed over to officials of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), he said.