Death of Indian: Acting Indian High Commissioner to take up issue with Pakistan

NEW DELHI: India today asked its acting High Commissioner in Islamabad to seek a meeting with the Pakistan Foreign Office in connection with the death of an Indian under mysterious circumstances in a jail there.

The envoy has also been instructed to seek early transfer of the mortal remains of Kirpal Singh, who was found dead in his cell in a Lahore Jail where he was languishing for over 20 years in connection with a serial blasts case there.

"On Kirpal Singh, our acting high commissioner in Islamabad has been instructed to seek a meeting at the highest possible level in Pakistan Foreign Office this forenoon to seek early transportation of Singh's mortal remains.

"He will also seek official information on the cause of the death and postmortem report etc," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swaroop said.

50-year-old Kirpal Singh was languishing in a Pakistani jail for nearly 25 years on spying charges and was found dead in his cell on Monday under mysterious circumstances.

Kirpal Singh had allegedly crossed Wagah border into Pakistan in 1992 and was arrested. He was subsequently sentenced to death in a serial bomb blasts case in Pakistan's Punjab province.

Kirpal, who hailed from Gurdaspur, was reportedly acquitted of bomb blast charges by the Lahore High Court but his death sentence could not be commuted due to unknown reasons.

Jagir Kaur, Kirpal's sister, earlier said the family could not raise voice for his release due to financial constraints and no politician came forward to plead his case.