What They Said: Death of Pakistani Prisoner Sanaullah Ranjay

Mukesh Gupta/Reuters Sanaullah Ranjay, inside the Kotbhalwal Central Jail in Jammu city, Jammu and Kashmir, on May 20, 2011.

NEW DELHIâ€" A Pakistani prisoner who was attacked in an Indian jail a week ago died of multiple organ failure in a hospital in Chandigarh on Thursday.

The prisoner, Sanaullah Ranjay, was in a jail in Jammu, northern India, serving a life sentence for terrorist acts when he was attacked with a pickax by a fellow prisoner.  The attack came a day after an Indian prisoner died in a Pakistan jail from injuries he sustained in an attack by other inmates.

The Indian government allowed two of Mr. Ranjay’s relatives and Pakistani diplomats to visit him in the hospital in recent days. His body will be sent back to Pakistan after legal formalities are cleared, the government said. There is concern in India that the tit-for-tat prisoner attacks could put a strain on already tense relations between the two countries. Here is what officials and others on both sides of the border had to say:

Syed Akbaruddin, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, told reporters:

“Unfortunately despite our best efforts he (Sanaullah) succumbed to the injuries and died this morning. We have informed the Pakistani authorities and are in touch with them.”

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, told Press Trust of India:

“Once the formalities are done, we will hand over the body,” to Pakistan.

Government of Pakistan, said in a press release:

“We have learnt with a deep sense of grief that Pakistani Prisoner Sanaullah has expired today in a hospital in Chandigarh, India. He succumbed to the brutal injuries inflicted upon him during an attack in a jail in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.”

“The brutal manner in which Sanaullah was attacked in the jail is most unfortunate and a matter of deep concern for the Government of Pakistan. We have conveyed our concern to the Government of India in this regard and demanded that an investigation into the incident be held and perpetrators of this heinous crime be brought to justice,” the release said.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, tweeted:

“Although it’s scant consolation I’d like to offer a sincere apology to the family of Sanaullah Haq & my sympathies for their loss. While the inquiry will fix responsibility for any dereliction of duty the fact that this happening at all is a matter of great regret.”

Jammu and Kashmir Home Minister Sajjad Kitchloo, said:

“We have set up a committee to look into the safety of prisoners in the state and all efforts are being taken to make sure this incident does not repeat.”

Manzoor Ali Memon, Pakistan High Commission Spokesperson, told news channel, CNN-IBN:

“We are in a deep grief and shock. We express our condolences to the (Sanaullah’s) family and people of Pakistan on the brutal killing, extra-judicial killing, extra-judicial murder of an innocent citizen of Pakistan under the nose of the jail authorities of Jammu and Kashmir.”

“We have requested the Government of India for an international inquiry into this brutal attack on our citizen,” he added.

Harinder Baweja, Senior Indian Journalist, tweeted:

“The sarabjit sanaullah beastiality needs some introspection by both countries. Shameful chapter”

Shabana Azmi, Indian Film Actress, tweeted:

“An eye for an eye will turn the whole world blind Mahatma Gandhi. We mourn Sarabjit and Sanaullah with deep sadness at the loss of humanity”