Engineer jailed in Pak for 5 yrs, returns home

Mumbai-based software engineer claimed to have inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan in 2007 by Samjhauta Express.

Mumbai: Mumbai-based software engineer who claimed to have inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan in 2007 by Samjhauta Express, and was jailed for five years there, returned home on Friday.

"It feels good to be back. I am happy," Bhavesh Parmar told reporters at the airport after his arrival here this afternoon. His mother Hansa Kanti thanked Vile Parle MLA Krishna Hegde and MP Priya Dutt for their help. Hegde, who helped his family to take up the matter of his repatriation with Indian and Pakistan governments, said, "He was handed over to us after completion of necessary formalities at the border yesterday." 32-year-old Parmar, a resident of suburban Vile Parle, crossed over to India at the Attari-Wagah border check post yesterday, and was received by his mother and Hegde. After spending five years in detention in Pakistan`s Kot Lakhpat Jail at Lahore, Bhavesh was given `Emergency Travel Certificate` by Indian High Commission in Islamabad to enable his return to India. PTI