Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Ranjay, who went into a coma after being badly beaten up by a fellow inmate in a Jammu jail last week, died this morning at PGIMER hospital here.
“The patient was brought in a brain dead condition and died this morning due to multiple organ failure,” a PGI spokesman said.
The condition of the injured Sanaullah, who is serving a life term after he was convicted under TADA provisions following his arrest in 1999, had worsened yesterday following kidney failure and neurological problems.
Sanaullah (52) was airlifted from Jammu to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) on Friday after he was beaten up by an Indian inmate, a day after the death of an Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh who was brutally attacked by fellow inmates in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail.
Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the body of Sanaullah will be handed over to Pakistan even as Islamabad demanded an investigation into the attack. The victim’s relatives arrived here on Tuesday from Pakistan.
“We will hand over the body to Pakistan,” Shinde told PTI.
Shinde said the ministry of external affairs is coordinating with the Pakistani authorities to complete the formalities to send back his body home. “Once the formalities are done, we will hand over the body,” he said.
Pakistan foreign office spokesman Chaudhry said Pakistan was making arrangements to repatriate the body.
Sources in Delhi said a detailed post-mortem of Sanaullah was being done in Chandigarh and that the travel arrangements would be made as per the request made by Pakistan.
Government has been informed that Pakistan is arranging an aircraft to fly his body back home, the sources said, adding “If they arrange a non-military registered plane, the clearance would be prompt.”
An official spokesperson in the MEA said India will facilitate Pakistan’s request to repatriate the body of Sanaullah and will provide necessary assistance.
In view of the tragic events, including the killing of two Indians in Pakistani jails and the Sanaullah incident, India has proposed that the officials of the two countries meet and take forward the recommendations of a judicial committee on humane treatment of prisoners, he said.
A Pakistani response to the proposal is awaited, the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Chandigarh’s adviser to the administrator K.K. Sharma said that the prisoner died at 6.56 am.
He said the authorities here are in touch with the centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government.
“All legalities will be followed before handing over the body to Pakistan,” Sharma said.
Chandigarh’s home secretary Anil Kumar said the body will be airlifted to Pakistan from the local airport.