Conduct thorough probe into Sarabjit's killing: India to Pak

Wants Pakistani authorities to release Sarabjit's body so he can have a funeral in India

India today demanded that Pakistan conduct a thorough probe into the incident that led to Sarabjit Singh's death and ensure that those responsible are punished.

It also said that the shocking attack on Sarabjit highlights the need of concerted action by Pakistan to safeguard Indians in Pakistani jails.

"We express great anguish at the demise of Sarabjit Singh who succumbed to injuries after the brutal attack on him in Kot Lakhpat Jail. This was, put simply, the killing of our citizen while in the custody of Pakistan jail authorities.

"We demand that the government of Pakistan conduct a through investigation to identify those who were responsible, and to ensure that they are punished," Ministry of External Affairs said today in a release here.

The Ministry also said that it shares the pain and sorrow of Sarabjit's family and has asked the Pakistani authorities to release his body so that he can be given a funeral in India, among his own people.

Sarabjit, 49, died of cardiac arrest in a Lahore hospital in the wee hours today after being comatose for nearly a week following a brutal assault by fellow inmates in the high-security Pakistani jail.

Sarabjit sustained severe injuries when at least six prisoners attacked him in a barrack at Kot Lakhpat Jail on Friday, hitting him on the head with bricks.