Amritsar, August 13: Indian National Gajanand Sharma, who was imprisoned at Central Jail Lahore for past 36 years, has been released by Pakistan today. Gajanand, a resident of Jaipur strayed into Pakistan when he was only 32-years of age. The Pakistani Rangers then arrested him. The Indian government and his family were unaware of his existence until this year. It was in May that the External Affairs Ministry and Jaipur police after thorough inquiry came to know that he was lodged in a Pakistani jail.

The exact nature of his crime was still not known. According to reports, Gajanand was initially sentenced for a shorter period, but due to the lack of consular access, he was in the jail for 36 years.  Sehdev Sharma, a Punjab based activist, came to receive Gajanand at Attari-Wagah border. Sehdev termed the release as the gift from the government on the occasion of the Independence Day. He said, "This is a gift for our entire nation from the central government on Independence Day."

Pakistan today released 30 Indian prisoners, including 27 fishermen at Punjab's Attari-Wagah Border today, as a humanitarian gesture. The Indian prisoners will be released ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of Pakistan PM-Elect Imran Khan on August 18.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 13, 2018 05:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).