Gurdip Singh's family thanks Swaraj as Indonesia spares him

The parents of Indian national Gurdip Singh, who was to be executed on drug charges in Indonesia, today thanked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for her support in this hour of crisis.

Gurdip was among the 10 convicts, who were to be executed but not put to death.

Gurdip's mother Kulwinder Kaur looked extremely elated as she said that her family had lost all hopes of his return.

"At around 2 a.m., the officials in the embassy called and gave us the news that Gurdip is alive and safe. At around 8.30 a.m., Gurdip called and said that he is fine and safe," she said.

"Everybody should support him at this point of time so that he can come back to India. He has asked me to thank Madam Sushma Swaraj as well as the media in particular for their support," she added.

Kulwinder also expressed hope that her son would soon be back home.

"The manner in which Madam Sushma Swaraj is putting all efforts and holding meetings with everybody, I believe they will very soon bring back Gurdip," she said.

Gurdip's father on his part thanked the media for their support.

"The environment at my home has become festive as if there is a wedding at my place and everybody is celebrating," he told ANI.

Gurdip, who hails from Jalandhar, was arrested on August 29, 2004, at Indonesia's Soekarno Hatta Airport on charges of drug trafficking.

He was found guilty by an Indonesian Court after being charged with trying to smuggle 300 g of heroin and was handed a death penalty in 2005.

Gurdip was among the 14 people, including Indonesian, Nigerian, Zimbabwean and Pakistani nationals, who were facing execution after the Indonesian authorities decided to resume implementing death penalty, a decision that has been criticised by human rights organisations.

One Indonesian and three Nigerians were executed by firing squad not long after midnight local time.