Bishan Sharma
On 16th of December, India celebrated 45th Vijay Diwas of Indo-pak war of 1971. During this war Indian Armed forces turned the war field into graveyard of Pak Armed forces. Pakistan was defeated in detail. The Pakistan units and sub units surrendered to the Indian Army units without waiting for any orders or confirmation from their superiors. Major General Niazi of 38 Punjab (Pakistan) surrendered to the commanding officer of 22 Maratha Light Infantry after the battle of Hilli. All the three forces of Pakistan were defeated. The military might of Indian forces was such that the Pak Navy even could not move an inch towards Indian territory. At the end of the war there were 93007 Pak soldiers and officers who were captured by Indian army and made as Prisoners of war. It was complete victory of India over Pakistan and Bangladesh was released from the claws of Pakistan who inflicted deep wounds on the people of East Pakistan. But 55 Indian Army and Air force personnel who were made prisoners of war by Pak in this war are still languishing in Pak jails and are still awaiting their freedom from the Pak jails for the last 45 years. The 93007 Pak soldiers were respectfully handed over to Pak without pressing Pak to release our 55 soldiers. The reason is not yet known to the families of these Indian warriors. Initially, it was suspected that the Indian Govt. of Late Indira Gandhi was not serious to care for these Indian Prisons of war in Pak jails.
The release of these soldiers from Pak jails remained a game of hide and seek between several Governments of India from 1971 till date. The kins of these soldiers ran from pillar to post and cried continously before the word community and before the Indian Govt. to intervene into the matter and press Pakistan hard to release these innocent soldiers. When BJP was in opposition in the Parliament House during the regime of Congress, BJP used to accuse Congress and its policies for the pathetic condition of these soldiers. The families of these soldiers turned every stone to raise the issue before the Congress Govt. at Delhi. All these families arranged several protests at Jantar Manter and Parliament House in the Year 2005. The then Prime Minister and President of India ensured these families for the earliest release of these soldiers. But nothing was done later on. When a strong protest was organised by the families of POWs at Jantar Manter in Delhi, several Human Rights oraganisations and political personalities accompanied these families.
The then BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, actresses turned politician Samriti Irani and Mohatarma Nafisa Ali played a leading role in these protests. But since, the BJP Govt. came into power, these leading personalities of BJP never remembered the assurance they gave to these breaved families. The Indian Govt. has done nothing for the release of our Pow. A writ petition was filed by General JS Arora in the Gujarat High Court in the year 1996, because General Arora was also a part of the war of 1971 and he knew how these soldiers made a supreme sacrifice. A reputed Advocate MK Paul of Gujarat High Court, fought the case free of cost as an honour to these warriors. This case was strongly supported by Brigadier MM Sharma and Col. RK Pattu. Five years back the High Court of Gujarat decided the case favouring the breaved families and directed the Union Govt. to consider all the Pows on duty and provide them the benefits of time bound promotions. The High Court also directed the Govt. to disburse the arrears of time bound promotions to the breaved families. The court also, directed the Union Govt. to raise the issue in the World Court. But it is very sad to reveal that Indian Govt. implemented the Court order partially. Some arrears were disbursed to the breaved families five years back but nothing was done for the release of these POWs. The noble souls like Col. Pattu, Brig. MM Sharma and Mr. MK Paul who fought for the cause of these families are in the last stage of their life and have lost courage to fight further. It is heart piercing to narrate that most of nearest relatives of these Pows have gone on heavenly abode with the passage of time and only the distant relatives sometimes remember these war heroes. But we still hope that the new Govt. at Delhi would take suitable measures to take back our respected soldiers because Vijay Diwas without POW’s will be incomplete.
(The author is Member Missing Defence personal of J&K)
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