An Indian farmer had accidentally crossed the border, Pakistani court sentenced him to jail

Islamabad: Amritpal Singh, a 23-year-old farmer from Punjab’s Ferozepur district, who had accidentally entered Pakistan, has been sentenced to one month’s imprisonment by a court in the neighboring country. This information was given by his father Jugraj Singh on Saturday. Amritpal’s father has appealed to the central and Punjab governments to take appropriate steps to bring his son back to India.

Amritpal Singh is a resident of Khaire Ke Uttar village in Ferozepur district. On June 21, he had gone to see his farm located near the Indo-Pak border, which is located across the barbed fence near the border post ‘Rana’ under the supervision of the Border Security Force.

BSF had found footprints
Amritpal did not return till 5 pm when the border gate was about to close. He is married and has a daughter. He has about 8.5 acres of land, which is located in the Indian border but across the fence. Later, BSF jawans found some footprints going towards Pakistan, which further increased the suspicion that he had crossed the border inadvertently.

Pakistani court sentenced him to one month
On June 27, Pakistani Rangers informed BSF that Amritpal was in the custody of local police. On Saturday, his father Jugraj Singh said that he came to know that a case has been registered against his son in Pakistan and on July 28, he was sentenced to one month. A Pakistani lawyer sent him the court order, according to which Amritpal has been charged under the Foreigners Act 1946.

Will have to pay a fine of Rs 50,000
He has also been fined Rs 50,000. If this fine is not paid, he will have to undergo another 15 days of imprisonment. The court has directed the concerned authorities to arrange for his return after the completion of the sentence. Amritpal spoke to his wife and family over the phone and told them that he is safe and is currently lodged in a jail.

Father appeals to the government
His father has appealed to the government to take necessary steps for the early return of his son. He is said to have gone to the farm on a motorcycle that afternoon, but did not return till evening. The BSF opened the gate again before sunset to search for him, but he was not found.

During the summer months, farmers are allowed to access the land between the fence and the international border under strict surveillance of the BSF from 8 am to 5 pm. Many farmers from border districts like Fazilka, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar and Tarn Taran have land in this area, called the ‘Zero Line’.