By Jaideep Sarin, IANS
Nangal Choran (Punjab): Former Indian soldier Kashmir Singh, freed after 35 years in Pakistani prisons, reached his native village Tuesday evening, overcome with emotion.
Hours after crossing into India from the Wagah land border, Kashmir Singh made his journey home to a rousing welcome from excited villagers who turned up in large numbers.
Many beat drums, burst crackers and broke into bhangra.
Kashmir Singh seemed happy as he entered his village, where he said much had changed since he last saw it in 1973. The village is located about 20 km from Hoshiarpur town in Punjab.
“This is a new house which my family has built. The one in which I lived is behind it,” Singh said after reaching home.
Men, women and children poured out of their homes for a glimpse of the village hero.
People also lined up both sides of the roads leading to the village from the Chandigarh-Hoshiarpur highway.
A tired-looking Kashmir Singh said that he was very happy to be back after being in solitary confinement in Pakistani jails for nearly 35 years.
He was arrested in Rawalpindi in 1973 on charges of spying. He was sentenced to death but this was reduced to life imprisonment. He was released from prison in Lahore Monday evening after being pardoned by President Pervez Musharraf.