68-year-old Gajanand Sharma reunites with family after his release from Lahore jail ahead of I-Day After spending 36 years in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail, Gajanand Sharma, a labourer from Jaipur’s Samod area, returned home to a tumultuous welcome on Tuesday night, bringing solace to his wife, sons and grandchildren who had lost hope of finding him alive. Mr. Sharma, 68, had crossed the Wagah border on Monday after being released by Pakistan. He was among the 29 prisoners released by the neighbouring country as a goodwill gesture ahead of its Independence Day, following sustained efforts by a group of Indian politicians.
New generation
As Mr. Sharma reunited with his family, his daughter-in-law Santosh said she would introduce him to each of his grandchildren, whom he had never seen. “When he left his sons were 12 and 13 years old. Since then, a new generation has been born,” she said. Granddaughter Muskan said all the children would take care of him and help him regain his health. A huge crowd of youth, mostly members of the Navdurga Yuva Mandal, raised slogans in support of the BJP, as Mr. Bohra, Hawa Mahal constituency MLA Surendra Pareek and local Municipal Councillor Sneh Lata Pareek accompanied Mr. Sharma. Mr. Bohra said Mr. Sharma was sentenced to two months in prison, but he languished in the Pakistani jail for a long period because he did not have consular access.