PM expresses grief, slams Pakistan government's refusal to take humanitarian view of Sarabjit case

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday condoled the death of Sarabjit Singh, hailing him as a 'brave son of India', and attacked Pakistan for not heeding to pleas for taking a humanitarian view on this issue after the deadly attack on the Indian national in a Lahore jail.

In a statement here, hours after Sarabjit succumbed to injuries suffered in last week's assault, Singh underlined that the criminals responsible for "the barbaric and murderous attack must be brought to justice".

He said the government will make arrangements to bring Sarabjit's remains home and for his last rites to be conducted in consultation with his family.

"I am deeply saddened by the passing away of Sarabjit Singh. He was a brave son of India who bore his tribulations with valiant fortitude," the PM said in his condolence message.

"It is particularly regrettable that the government of Pakistan did not heed the pleas of the government of India, Sarabjit's family and of the civil society in India and Pakistan to take a humanitarian view of this case," he said.

He said the nation shares the profound grief of Sarabjit's family. "May his soul be granted the peace that he could not enjoy in life," he added.

Sarabjit died of cardiac arrest in a Pakistani hospital in the wee hours today after being comatose for nearly a week following a brutal assault by fellow inmates in a high-security jail.

Meanwhile, Union home minister met Sarabjit's family here on Thursday morning.

Sarabjit Singh's death is unfortunate for the country, he said.

The govt is trying to ensure that his body is brought back to India as soon as possible, Shinde said.

Once the body is returned to India, his last rites will be performed as per the family's wishes, he said.