Close X
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
ADVT 
India

Taking Only Good Memories Of India Home: Pak Man Mohammed Imran Warsi Jailed For 10 Years

Darpan News Desk IANS, 24 Dec, 2018 07:29 AM

    Pakistani national Mohammed Imran Warsi, who is set to be repatriated to his native country after spending 10 years in a Bhopal jail, on Sunday said he will only be taking home the "good memories" of his time in India.


    On December 26, the 40-year-old will be taken to the Wagah border, from where he will finally head home after a long wait.


    Mr Warsi was convicted in 2008 by a local court under the Official Secrets Act and the Passport Act. Among other charges, the court had found him guilty of conspiracy, cheating and forging documents.


    He completed his sentence in March this year and has been staying at Bhopal's Shahjahanabad police station ever since as he awaited completion of the legal formalities for his repatriation.


    Recalling his time in prison, he said he is grateful to his fellow inmates who collected money to help him pay a fine imposed by the court.


    "The inmates in Bhopal Central Jail were very friendly. They collected Rs. 8,000 so I could deposit the fine imposed by the court. Otherwise I would have had to spend two more years in jail. They helped me a lot," Mr Warsi told.


    He also praised the officials at the Shahjahanabad police station for treating him well.


    "The police personnel have been very friendly and fulfilled my daily needs. They arranged clothes and food for me. I slept inside the police station. I am taking back good memories with me," he said.


    For the Karachi resident, the Shahjahanabad police station became his second home.


    Though he is not under detention, Mr Warsi cannot leave the police station. It is the nodal station where foreigners who are to be repatriated wait for completion of legal formalities.


    Having spent a long time behind bars, he empathises with Indian prisoners languishing in Pakistani jails.


    Mr Warsi said he would appeal to the governments of India and Pakistan to continue the process of releasing the prisoners in their jails.


    "This will increase amicability between the two countries. I will also say the same in my country," he said.


    Narrating his story, Mr Warsi said he arrived in Kolkata in 2004 to meet Shazia, the woman he had fallen in love with on Facebook.


    "I reached Kolkata in 2004 for my love and got married to Shazia. I lived there for four years and we had two sons. One of them is 13 years old and another is 11 years old now," he said.


    He said he came to Bhopal after learning that getting a passport was easy in the city.


    He was arrested in 2008 following a complaint by his wife's relatives, who, he claimed, were angry after the couple demanded its share in property.


    Mr Warsi said though he was absolved of spying charge, he was convicted for forging documents like ration card and PAN card.


    Asked about his wife and children, Mr Warsi said he will try to bring them to Pakistan after he reaches home.


    His repatriation comes close on the heels of that of Mumbai resident Hamid Nihal Ansari, who returned home on Thursday after spending six years in a Pakistani jail on espionage charges.


    Interestingly, the stories of Mr Ansari and Mr Warsi are somewhat similar. They both crossed the border to meet the women they had befriended on social media.


    While Mr Warsi was fortunate enough to marry his love interest, Mr Ansari could not even meet the woman he came looking for.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Now, Shop For Beauty Products, Home, Kitchen Essentials On Board Trains

    Now, Shop For Beauty Products, Home, Kitchen Essentials On Board Trains
    However, the contractor will not be allowed to sell any eatables, cigarettes, guthka or alcohol on board trains.

    Now, Shop For Beauty Products, Home, Kitchen Essentials On Board Trains

    Video: SUV Driver Drags Cop On Bonnet After He Was Stopped For Driving On Wrong Side

    A driver of an SUV dragged a traffic police personnel for a few meters on the bonnet of his car after he was asked to stop his vehicle for driving on the wrong side.

    Video: SUV Driver Drags Cop On Bonnet After He Was Stopped For Driving On Wrong Side

    Jinnah House India's Property, Pakistan Has No Locus Standi: Indian Government

    The Jinnah House on Malabar Hill in Mumbai was designed by architect Claude Batley in European style and Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah lived there in the late 1930s.  

    Jinnah House India's Property, Pakistan Has No Locus Standi: Indian Government

    Kerala High Court Rejects Malayalam Actress' Plea Seeking Police Security

    On December 18, Leena Maria Paul had moved the court seeking a direction to police to provide her security, days after two men allegedly fired shots at the parlour

    Kerala High Court Rejects Malayalam Actress' Plea Seeking Police Security

    Cousin Of Agra Girl Set On Fire By 2 Men Allegedly Commits Suicide

    Cousin Of Agra Girl Set On Fire By 2 Men Allegedly Commits Suicide
    The Dalit girl died in Safdarjang hospital in Delhi, where she was brought after being set on fire on Tuesday.

    Cousin Of Agra Girl Set On Fire By 2 Men Allegedly Commits Suicide

    Don't Fall In Love Over Facebook, Says Mumbai Man Freed By Pakistan

    It was on Facebook that software engineer Hamid Nihal Ansari fell in love with a girl from Pakistan, went there to prevent her "forced" marriage and before he could meet her, was arrested and jailed.  

    Don't Fall In Love Over Facebook, Says Mumbai Man Freed By Pakistan