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Vikas Singh walks to freedom

Neena Chaudhary in Amritsar

Thanks to unprecedented public pressure, the ordeal of Vikas Singh finally got over when he walked back to freedom setting foot on Indian soil after crossing the India-Pakistan border at the Attari-Wagah joint check post on Thursday evening.

Vikas Singh was arrested by the Pakistani authorities in April and sentenced to three years' prison term in May this year for entering that country without valid documents.

Till recently he was languishing in the Peshawar jail. He was handed over to the Indian authorities at the border.

While it was freedom for Vikas Singh, about four and half dozen reporters had to sweat it out braving the oppressive heat since morning. Nobody from his family or friends turned up to receive him at the border.

Sporting long hair and a beard, Vikas Singh was wearing a soiled Salwar kameez. His cycle, on which he had gone to Pakistan was also returned. The cycle was in bad shape as its wheels lacked tyres and tubes.

Talking to reporters at the border before he was whisked away by the Border Security Force for questioning, Vikas Singh surprised most by saying that he was quite satisfied with the treatment he received in the Pakistan jails.

He refused to answer when posed with a question that he was the first repatriated Indian, who was quite satisfied at the treatment given to the Indian prisoners.

Vikas Singh said that so far he has visited 62 countries on his cycle with his mission for world peace. He was pleased that the India and Pakistan were attempting to sort out their differences. He vowed to continue with his mission.

Meanwhile, a BSF spokesperson said that after some preliminary inquiries, they would hand over Vikas Singh to the Amritsar district authorities. It is expected that Vikas Singh would be flown to Delhi at the earliest for further formalities.

EARLIER REPORTS:
Vikas Singh to be handed over on Thursday
Vikas Singh's case to be taken up with Pakistan

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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