Madhya Pradesh Man Returns Home After 14-Year Ordeal in Pakistan Jail
In a poignant homecoming that highlights both diplomatic cooperation and human resilience, Prasanjit Ranjari from Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district is finally returning to India after nearly 14 years of being missing from home and more than five years spent in a Pakistani jail under suspicion of espionage. The moment of relief for his family, however, is tempered by acute financial struggles that threaten to delay his actual return to his village.
Diplomatic Repatriation at Attari Border
Pakistan on Saturday repatriated seven Indian civilians, including Prasanjit, at the Attari Integrated Check Post in Punjab, according to official statements. The handover was conducted by Pakistani Rangers to the Border Security Force following extensive diplomatic coordination between the two neighboring nations. This repatriation initiative focuses on returning civilians who inadvertently crossed the border, particularly during flood seasons when boundary markers become unclear.
The group included four men from Ferozepur district and one each from Jalandhar and Ludhiana in Punjab, alongside Prasanjit who represents the sole case from Madhya Pradesh in this batch. Officials at Attari confirmed that release orders were received by both sides earlier in the day, after which the prisoners were formally handed over to Indian authorities and taken to customs and immigration facilities for completion of necessary formalities.
Family's Bittersweet Celebration Amid Financial Hardship
For Prasanjit's family in Khairlanji village, located approximately 470 kilometers from Bhopal near the MP-Maharashtra border, the joy of his impending return has been clouded by severe financial constraints. His sister Sanghmitra, who resides in a village about 80 kilometers from Balaghat district headquarters, revealed that while the family received a call from Amritsar informing them of Prasanjit's release, they lack the resources to travel and bring him home.
"We are happy and excited that he is finally coming home after so many years, but our financial condition is not good enough to make the journey," Sanghmitra told media sources, adding that village secretary Yogendra Chaudhary has assured the family he will accompany them. Balaghat Superintendent of Police Abhishek Mishra has pledged police assistance, stating, "We will try to help the family and send policemen with them to Amritsar so that Prasanjit can be brought back safely."
A Story That Nearly Faded Into Silence
Prasanjit's case represents one that had nearly disappeared from public memory. The 39-year-old vanished in 2018, and after years of fruitless searching, his family had resigned themselves to believing he was dead. Hope resurfaced unexpectedly in 2021 when Kuldeep Singh, a former Indian prisoner released from Pakistan after 29 years, contacted Prasanjit's relatives with astonishing news: their missing family member was alive, lodged in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore under a false identity, and detained on suspicion of espionage.
Since receiving this information, Sanghmitra has pursued authorities relentlessly, seeking intervention from local officials and public representatives. Official records indicate that Prasanjit had completed a pharmacy degree from Jabalpur University and was registered with the State Pharmacy Council until 2015, before his mental health deteriorated and he disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
Pattern of Mentally Ill Men from MP in Pakistani Jails
This case has brought renewed attention to a disturbing pattern of mentally ill men from Madhya Pradesh ending up in Pakistani jails, often after accidental border crossings, and spending years in custody before their identities are properly established. Similar cases from the state have surfaced repeatedly over the years, creating both humanitarian concerns and diplomatic challenges.
Notable cases include:
- Prahlad Singh of Sagar, who spent nearly 30 years in a Pakistani jail after accidentally crossing the border and was repatriated in a severely deteriorated mental state, now unable to speak
- Bari Lal, a mentally ill resident of Damoh, who disappeared from home and was later discovered in a Pakistani prison, where he remained in custody for two years before his arrest was officially recorded
- Other Madhya Pradesh residents who met similar fates: Jitendra Arjunwar of Seoni, Raju Laxman of Khandwa, Budhram Marko of Dindori, Anil Kumar Saket of Rewa, and Sunil Uikey of Balaghat
In most instances, families report a mysterious disappearance followed years later by confirmation that the individual had crossed the border unknowingly and was subsequently jailed on suspicion of espionage. These cases highlight the need for improved mental health support systems and more efficient cross-border identification mechanisms to prevent such prolonged ordeals for vulnerable individuals and their families.
