A Fragmented family awaits Lance Naik Jagsir Singh who has spent five years in Pakistani custody.His family disintegrated soon after Jagsir was declared a deserter by the Army during the Kargil war in 1999. Unable to bear the humiliation and poverty, his pregnant wife Jaswinder left for her brothers’ home in Muktsar. There, she gave birth to a daughter, Kuldeep. ‘‘She took away all her household belongings to Muktsar,’’ alleges Jagsir’s mother Chotto Kaur, who lives in Kot Bhai village with her grand-daughter. Her husband died three years ago.Jaswinder refuses to comment on the circumstances that forced her to leave her in-laws. But mention Jagsir, and her face lights up: ‘‘My two brothers tried to coax me into re-marriage, but I always put my foot down. Now, there is no question. I am looking forward to live with my husband and daughter.’’But in Kot Bhai, five-year-old Kuldeep (see photo) does not remember her mother. Ask her if she misses her mother and she frowns, snuggling deeper into her granny’s lap. But quiz her on her father, and she points to his picture: ‘‘Mere daddy fauj de vich han (My daddy is in the Army).’’ With Jagsir’s return only a matter of days now, his mother is keen for a reconciliation.‘‘I have no problems if Jaswinder is acceptable to Jagsir on his return,’’ she says, before showing his letter. It is his first letter from prison in Rawalpindi to his uncle Kulwant Singh. Written on June 14, it has Jagsir inquiring about his family. He would be happy to know that the last month has been easy on them. A day after The Indian Express highlighted the plight of Jagsir and Sapper Mohammed Arif, Army authorities visited Jagsir’s mother and wife and gave them a cheque of Rs 25,000 each on May 10. A few days ago, his battalion — 108 Engineers Regiment — sent another cheque of Rs 38,675. The Army is now planning a rousing welcome for Jagsir at Kot Bhai. Jagsir and Arif are lodged at Hadiala Central Jail in Rawalpindi and the Army is trying to get them released before August 15 this year. While Jagsir’s best friend, Iqbal, has shot off a letter to him in Pakistan, his uncle Kulwant is writing to him today. ‘‘It’s not easy.’’ he murmurs. ‘‘There is so much to tell, so much to leave unsaid.’’
