Bhikhiwind village in shock
Thursday,28/06/2012
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120628/punjab.htm#2
Locked house, deserted street and empty sweet boxes lying on the roadside, this sums up the scenario at Sarabjit's residence at Bhikhiwind village in Tarn Taran today, hours after Pakistan did a volte-face on commuting his death sentence.
The scene was in stark contrast with the happenings at Sarabjit's house late last evening when fire crackers were being burst and laddoos distributed. Sarabjit's family and their fellow villagers, for whom Tuesday ushered in happiness, were shell shocked to learn in the morning that it was not Sarabjit but Surjeet Singh who is being released.
Prior to leaving for Jalandhar this morning, a dejected Sukhpreet Kaur, Sarabjit's wife, said: "The news of Pakistani government commuting Sarabjit's death sentence had rekindled our hopes last evening". She said it might not be deliberate on part of Pakistan, but it had definitely hurt the family's sentiments.
The villagers were equally shocked. Sukhpreet's neighbour Harmanpreet Kaur termed it a sad moment for the village which was hoping to see Sarabjit returning home in a day or two. Another resident, 50-year-old Tehal Singh, said Pakistan had played a cruel joke on them. "We have been celebrating last night, but we had no clue that our happiness will be short-lived," he said. Similarly, Gagandeep, a cloth merchant, flayed the U-turn by Pakistan and said they were disappointed.
Bhikhiwind sarpanch Harjinder Singh Jinda organised an all-party meeting and passed a resolution, appealing to the Centre to initiate high-level talks with Pakistan to ensure Sarabjit's early release. "We were planning to visit holy shrines today, but it seems destiny had some other plans. We hail Surjeet's release, but at the same time we demand an early release of Sarabjit as well," said panchayat members. Local leaders of the SAD, BJP and the Congress participated in the meeting.
