Odisha Man Recounts Ordeal In Pak Jail

Sundargarh: Marcus Kulu alias Birju, who returned to his native village Jangarpada in Sundargarh district after 25 years, has recounted his ordeal in a jail in Pakistan for 20 years.

Talking to the media persons, Biju said he left his village 25 years ago and stayed at his uncle’s place at Balwa village near Ranchi in Jharkhand.

“After staying at my uncle’s house for some days, I left his house in the night. I cannot say how I trespassed into Pakistan. While crossing through the fence, my shirt was torn by the iron nails. In the meanwhile, I was caught by some farmers working in a field who took me to Sikharpur where the Pakistan police kept me under their custody for a week. Police later forwarded me to the court which remanded me to the jail in Lahore where the jail authorities kept me inside a dark cell with chains on my hands and legs,” he said.

Showing his wounded legs, he said that the jail authorities used to flog him and thrash with iron rod every day suspecting him a spy. “I had to remain in the cell for 20 years and was not allowed to move out,” he added.

He further said that the jail authorities used to provide him with biryani twice a week, rice and dal on Monday and Tuesday and bread and curry in the remaining three days.

Asked about his acquaintances with the jail inmates, Birju said that apart from him, there were 19 in the cell of whom two were from Bihar who succumbed to their illness.

Stating that during his stay, all 17 inmates became his friends. “I cannot remember all the names. But some of them with whom I was very close were Raju Somar, Banabasi and Rabi,” he pointed out.

He said all his friends had happily bid him farewell at the time of his release.