Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
ADVT 
India

After Release From Pakistan Jail, Hamid Ansari Crosses Over To India- WATCH

IANS, 18 Dec, 2018 08:12 PM

    Hamid Nehal Ansari, the man from Mumbai who was released from a Pakistani jail after six years for alleged espionage charges, crossed over to the Indian side at the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab on Tuesday.

     

    A weary looking bespectacled Ansari in a jacket, muffler and a Pashtun cap, was welcomed by his parents, Nehal and Fauzia, who were waiting at the border along with a large contingent of India-Pakistan friendship activists and officials.

     

    Stepping on to the Indian side, the 33-year-old along with his family knelt down and touched the soil of his motherland with their foreheads.

     

    As Ansari stood up, he first hugged his mother and then embraced his father in an emotional reunion.

     
     

    The three were then whisked away by the authorities without allowing any interaction with the media.

     

    In Mumbai, Bharatiya Janata Party activist and former legislator Krishna Hegde, who helped the family in the past few years, expressed happiness following Ansari's return.

     

    "Very happy for Hamid, specially his parents who have worked very hard for his release and his family," Hegde said.

     

    He also thanked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and officials from both India and Pakistan.

     

    "A special mention should also be made for his lawyers, media and NGOs who have supported his parents for the past six years," Hegde said.

     

    Pakistan had alleged that Ansari, an engineer, was an "Indian spy" who illegally entered the country. Islamabad accused him of involvement in anti-state crimes, forging documents, and jailed him.

     

    For the family, it was an ordeal since November 2012 when he left the country for Kabul for employment and then was reported "missing".

     

     

    He reportedly became friendly with a Pakistan girl on social media and reached Kohat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to save her from a forced marriage.

     

    On November 12, 2012, Ansari crossed over from Afghanistan border in Jalalabad to Peshawar in Pakistan where he was nabbed by Pakistan intelligence.

     

    Later, a military court sentenced him to three years in jail, a term that he completed on December 15.

     

    On Monday, the External Affairs Ministry said it has received a note from Pakistan that they would be releasing Ansari on Tuesday.

     

     

    "It is a matter of great relief, especially for the family members, that six years of incarceration of the Indian civilian in Pakistan jail is coming to an end," Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Punjab To Use Drones To Keep Check On Illegal Mining

    Punjab To Use Drones To Keep Check On Illegal Mining
    The Punjab Mining and Geology Department has decided to deploy drones to curb illegal sand mining in the state, officials said on Wednesday.

    Punjab To Use Drones To Keep Check On Illegal Mining

    Akali Dal Expels Senior Leaders Who Publicly Criticised Sukhbir Badal

    Akali Dal Expels Senior Leaders Who Publicly Criticised Sukhbir Badal
    The first signs of trouble came after the Ranjit Singh panel report into the 2015 sacrilege cases and subsequent police firing, was made public.

    Akali Dal Expels Senior Leaders Who Publicly Criticised Sukhbir Badal

    UK University Appoints Indian Cold Chain Expert As Honorary Professor

    The University of Birmingham announced on Tuesday that it has appointed sustainable cold chain expert Pawanexh Kohli as an honorary professor of post-harvest logistics.

    UK University Appoints Indian Cold Chain Expert As Honorary Professor

    I Don’t Lie, We Chose Ambani By Ourselves: Dassault CEO Eric Trappier

    Dassault CEO Eric Trappier on Tuesday said he didn’t lie and they chose Ambani by themselves while referring to allegations of corruption in the Reliance-Dassault JV deal.

    I Don’t Lie, We Chose Ambani By Ourselves: Dassault CEO Eric Trappier

    Debt-Ridden Punjab All Set For Rs 100-Crore Binge On Luxury Cars

    Debt-Ridden Punjab All Set For Rs 100-Crore Binge On Luxury Cars
    At a time when the debt-ridden Punjab government is unable to pay salaries and pensions to its serving and former employees, or allocate funds for subsidies and social welfare schemes on time, it is all set for a nearly Rs 100 crore luxury ride.

    Debt-Ridden Punjab All Set For Rs 100-Crore Binge On Luxury Cars

    No Threat Of Revival Of Militancy In Punjab: Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat

    "There is not much threat (of revival of militancy) in Punjab, but we need to be alert about it," Bipin Rawat said.

    No Threat Of Revival Of Militancy In Punjab: Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat