Journalism of Courage
The Pakistan government has decided to release Dinesh Vishwakarma along with 150 other Indian fishermen, who were languishing in a Karachi jail despite their term finishing over a year ago, on May 26 — the day when Narendra Modi takes oath as Prime Minister.
Vishwakarma’s family was informed about his release by Dr Mukesh Singh, a local BJP leader who was pursuing the case on the family’s behalf, after he received an e-mail Friday night from the Indian High Commission based in Islamabad intimating about Pakistan’s decision to release Vishwakarma on May 26 through the Wagah border.
Vishwakarma, a native of Bahariyabad village in UP’s Ghazipur district, went missing in 2011 from Rajasthan’s Alwar district where he was working in a private firm since 2008. An RTI request by the family to the Ministry of External Affairs brought them the news of Vishwakarma’s arrest on March 9, 2012 by the Pakistan authorities after being convicted under Foreigner’s. He was sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment.
The family, wife Rukmani and their three children, have been repeatedly writing to both the MEA and Indian High Commission in Pakistan for Vishwakarma’s release ever since his jail term ended in April 2013.
Singh, the local BJP leader, who claims he had personal contacts with the former Deputy High Commissioner, Acquino Vimal, pursued Vishwakarma’s case. He said Gopal Bagley, the present Deputy High Commissioner, wrote an email to him Friday night, informing him (along with the Indian authorities) about Vishwakarma’s release and that of 150 others.
“I am leaving for Amritsar Sunday with my brothers-in-law Rajnish and Sujeet to receive my husband at the Attari border,” said Rukmani, who also thanked Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for “a relief of Rs 1.10 lakh” and also writing to “(the outgoing) PM Manmohan Singh in November last year” for her husband’s release.
