Indian convict Sarabjit Singh still in ‘coma’

An Indian national, Sarabjit Singh, who is on death row in a Pakistani prison, and was injured in an attack by prisoners on Friday, is still in ‘coma’, hospital sources said Saturday.

Singh was shifted to a hospital shortly after the attack by other prisoners when he was routinely walking in the premises of the jail, according to officials.

Singh, convicted for alleged involvement in a series of bomb attacks that killed 14 people in 1990, was in a death cell in Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore.

Sources said that Singh has been on ventilator since the attack and artificial oxygen is being provided to him. A team of doctors are treating him, however, no one is officially sharing any information with the media about his health condition.

Officials say that two convicts — Mudasor and Amir – attacked the Indian prisoner intentionally. Some sources say that the attackers were five and that he was beaten in a barrack.

Two other prisoners were also injured when they tried to reconcile them, sources said.

Singh’s family members in India have applied for Pakistani visas to visit him in hospital.

Officials said Singh had received injuries at head and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital where doctors said that he was brought when bleeding continued from his head.

They said two prisoners attacked Singh with bricks, steel rods and tins when he was walking in the jail premises as per routine. Witnesses said that they exchanged hot words before the attack.

The government formed a committee to investigate the incident and two jail officials were suspended for their failure to stop the attack.

In Islamabad, the Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and said that the authorities are investigating the incident.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the Interior Ministry and the Home department of Punjab Province are jointly holding probe.

He confirmed that the Indian High Commission in Islamabad has contacted the Foreign Ministry over the incident.

The government is also considering the Indian embassy’s request for counselor access to Singh.

Singh’s sister in India said that the officials had threatened him and he was attacked despite security.

Indian Singh family has filed several mercy appeals to the Pakistani President. However, no decision has yet been taken.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Apr 27 2013. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.