This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18621746#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| India spy Surjeet Singh returns from Pakistan jail | India spy Surjeet Singh returns from Pakistan jail |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| An Indian man has returned to his country after spending more than 30 years in jail in Pakistan for spying. | An Indian man has returned to his country after spending more than 30 years in jail in Pakistan for spying. |
| Surjeet Singh was greeted at the Wagah border crossing by his son and other family members and well-wishers. | |
| Wearing marigold garlands around his neck, Mr Singh admitted to reporters: "I had gone there for spying." | Wearing marigold garlands around his neck, Mr Singh admitted to reporters: "I had gone there for spying." |
| There was confusion this week when Pakistan said another Indian, Sarabjit Singh, would be freed, but later clarified it was to be Surjeet Singh. | There was confusion this week when Pakistan said another Indian, Sarabjit Singh, would be freed, but later clarified it was to be Surjeet Singh. |
| Sarabjit Singh has been on death row for more than 21 years after being convicted of spying and bomb attacks he denies carrying out. | Sarabjit Singh has been on death row for more than 21 years after being convicted of spying and bomb attacks he denies carrying out. |
| Campaigners are still pressing for him to be freed too as part of what is being seen as a recent thaw in diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan. | Campaigners are still pressing for him to be freed too as part of what is being seen as a recent thaw in diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan. |
| On Wednesday, Pakistan released more than 300 Indian fishermen being held in a Karachi jail as a goodwill gesture. | |
| The fishermen are also expected to cross the Wagah border on Thursday. | |
| 'Really happy' | 'Really happy' |
| TV pictures showed Mr Singh crossing the Wagah border, accompanied by Border Security Force personnel and police. | TV pictures showed Mr Singh crossing the Wagah border, accompanied by Border Security Force personnel and police. |
| Family members greeted him by putting several marigold garlands around his neck and offered him sweets. | Family members greeted him by putting several marigold garlands around his neck and offered him sweets. |
| Nearly 250 people from his village had arrived in buses to receive him at the border. | |
| "I am free after 30 years. I've met my family, I'm really happy," he told reporters. | "I am free after 30 years. I've met my family, I'm really happy," he told reporters. |
| Mr Singh said he had been treated well in jail. | Mr Singh said he had been treated well in jail. |
| He said he met his fellow prisoner, Sarabjit Singh, regularly in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat prison and that he had been well treated too. | He said he met his fellow prisoner, Sarabjit Singh, regularly in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat prison and that he had been well treated too. |
| Surjeet Singh said he would do everything possible to get his fellow prisoner freed. He said "media hype" had spoiled Sarabjit Singh's case. | Surjeet Singh said he would do everything possible to get his fellow prisoner freed. He said "media hype" had spoiled Sarabjit Singh's case. |
| Surjeet Singh now plans to go to the Golden Temple, Sikhdom's holiest place, "to pray and hug my children". | Surjeet Singh now plans to go to the Golden Temple, Sikhdom's holiest place, "to pray and hug my children". |
| There are few details available of how Mr Singh came to be in Pakistan or when exactly he was arrested. | |
| He was a resident of Phidde village in Punjab's Ferozepur district and his family says his real name is Makhan Singh and that he was a low-ranking government employee. | |
| He is believed to be in his mid-70s. | |
| Earlier this week, Pakistan's law minister conveyed to the government that Surjeet Singh had completed his life term and ought to be released and sent back to India. | Earlier this week, Pakistan's law minister conveyed to the government that Surjeet Singh had completed his life term and ought to be released and sent back to India. |
| That followed reports, which turned out to be wrong, that Pakistan was about to free Sarabjit Singh. | That followed reports, which turned out to be wrong, that Pakistan was about to free Sarabjit Singh. |
| On Thursday, Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said he "welcomed" Surjeet Singh's release, but it was now "time for Sarabjit Singh to be freed". | |
| Pakistan and India frequently arrest each other's citizens, often accusing them of being spies after they have strayed across the land or maritime border. | Pakistan and India frequently arrest each other's citizens, often accusing them of being spies after they have strayed across the land or maritime border. |
| In recent years, several Indians returning from Pakistani jails have admitted to spying. Some have criticised India's government for abandoning them. |