Sundargarh: A little over 25 years back Birju Kulu of Jangateli village in the Rajgangpur block of Sundergarh district went missing under mysterious circumstances. At that time Birju Kulu was working in a Ranchi hotel. Later his family members were in for a shock when they came to know that Kulu was behind bars in a Pakistani prison.
Apparently, Birju was mentally unstable when he went missing. He somehow reached Amritsar and from there crossed the border separating India and Pakistan. He was promptly arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison for entering Pakistan without proper documents. Charges of espionage were brought against him and being mentally unstable he could not even present his case properly. He was lodged at the Lahore prison during his entire term.
Birju completed his sentence in October. He was handed over to Indian authorities at the border October 26. Currently he is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Amritsar as he tested positive for COVID-19.
Birju’s family had given up all hope of seeing him again. So they were in for a pleasant surprise when Sundargarh district administration officials informed them about Birju’s whereabouts. His elder sister is only person alive in Birju’s family. She has managed to talk with her brother over a video call and is eagerly waiting when she can see her again. She however, informed that Birju’s parents had died when he was in Pakistan.
We have received information about Birju’s release from a Pakistani jail. We know he is in Amritsar undergoing treatment. We have got in touch with him. We will facilitate his return to his village once he is discharged from the hospital,” said Biswajit Mohapatra, ADM Sundergarh.
“We had lived in hope that someday we will be able to see Birju again. Thankfully our prayers have been answered,” said another relative of Birju.
PNN