Who is Sanaullah?
54 year old Sanaullah ,a resident of Sialkot was serving a life sentence for terrorist activities.He was being tried for murder since the late 1990s for carrying out acts of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. He had been in the Kot Bhalwal Jail for the last 17 years. He has been booked in eight cases, including murder, and been given life imprisonment in two. An illiterate, Sanaullah, who used to eke out his living operating a horse cart, was also the mastermind behind the digging of a tunnel in Kot Balwal jail when the prison authorities had separated Pakistani prisoners from other inmates.After the the plan was unearthed, the Pakistani convicts and other inmates were kept together to prevent any further plot to escape.
Who is the Attacker?
The Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Haq was attacked by Vinod Kumar-a former Indian Army soldier.Vinod Kumar belongs to Uttarakhand and has been in Kot Bhalwal for six years. He is undergoing life imprisonment for murdering his colleague in Leh and a case of assault was registered against him.
What Happened?
According to a preliminary probe, Sanaullah along with other prisoners was working in the garden where he entered into an argument with Vinod Kumar, a fellow inmate serving a life term in another case.Official sources said the argument turned violent and Kumar hit Sanaullah with bricks and shovel on his head. A case has been registered against Kumar.
"They were all talking to each other when all of sudden some altercation took place between the two and Vinod Kumar hit Sanaullah on the head."Officials are trying ascertain whether Sanaullah was attacked with bricks or a shovel handle. He received serious head injuries and was taken to the Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu, where doctors said he had slipped into a coma, much like Sarabjit Singh who was attacked in a Lahore jail on April 26 and died Thursday.
What was India's Reaction?
Two prison officials including jail superintendent Rajni Sehgal have been suspended by the Jammu and Kashmir government which ordered an enquiry by Divisional Commissioner (Jammu)."We are looking into the matter and two persons including jail superintendent have been suspended," Director General of Prison K Rajendra said. "He has suffered serious head injuries and is in a coma. He has been admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and we are planning surgery on him as early as possible," a doctor at the hospital said. India termed the attack as "regrettable" and said "the matter is being investigated and guilty will be punished." 52-year-old Sanuallah, a resident of Sialkot in Pakistan, was immediately shifted from high-security Kot Balwal jail to Government Medical College hospital and later rushed to PGI Chandigarh in an air ambulance after doctors said his condition was critical.
What was Pakistan's Reactions?
Pakistan expressed serious concern over the attack and sought immediate consular access to him."Pakistan High Commission has taken up with the ministry of external affairs the attack on Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah in Kot Bhalwal in Jammu," said a statement."Pakistan High Commission has asked for detailed information of the incident, immediate consular access, medical facilities for the victim and security of inmates (other Pakistani prisoners)," it added.
Following the death of 49-year-old Sarabjit in Pakistan, Union Home Ministry had issued advisories to all states for maintaining high vigil in jails and ensure there was no attack on any Pakistani prisoner lodged there.Excluding fishermen, there are about 220 Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails. A similar number of Indians are lodged in Pakistani jails.
With the death of Sarabjit, there has been a mass outpouring of public outrage. After inflammable and emotional statements from Sarabjit's family and the opposition, followed by meek and weak responses from the government, such kind of instances are beyond dangerous. Jingoism and national pride have certainly been misplaced if people start baying for Pakistani blood. Justice for Sarabjit would come if his attackers are identified and punished and safety is ensured for Indian prisoners in Pakistan jails. But when India starts doing the same to Pakistani prisoners, aren't we losing out on some of our moral authority? Justice is justice. Indian authorities should make sure a proper investigation is under taken for the attack on Sanaullah.
Pakistani Prisoner Sanaullah Attacked in Jammu Jail | India | www.indiatimes.com