India outraged at Sarabjit's death, PM demands justice from Pakistan

India erupted in anger today over the death of Sarabjit Singh after a "barbaric" attack in a Lahore jail with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding justice from Pakistan and BJP calling for scaling down diplomatic ties with that country.

As an outraged government and political parties across the spectrum targeted Pakistan and showed solidarity with 49-year-old Sarabjit's family, questions were also raised on future of Indo-Pak ties.

A shattered Dalbir Kaur, sister of Sarabjit, urged political parties to unite for a strong collective response to Pakistan. Kaur wanted her brother to be declared a martyr.

Hailing Sarabjit as a "brave son of India", Singh said it was "particularly regrettable" that Pakistan did not heed pleas to take a humanitarian view of the prisoner's case.

The prime minister underlined that the criminals responsible for "the barbaric and murderous attack must be brought to justice".

Asserting that Sarabjit's death was a killing of an Indian citizen while in the custody of Pakistan jail authorities, the External Affairs Ministry demanded that Pakistan conduct a thorough probe into the incident to ensure that those who are responsible were punished.

BJP while condemning the death of Sarabjit as a "cold blooded murder" assumed a strident tone demanding that India call back its High Commissioner in Pakistan and scale down diplomatic relations with that country.

"The Indian high commissioner in Pakistan should be called back for the time being until Pakistan gives credible assurances that it will not allow its territory to be used to promote terrorism against India and that all Indian prisoners are safe in Pakistani jails," he told reporters.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid when asked whether ties between India and Pakistan will be normal in the backdrop of Sarabjit death said, "I think it is a big question that in coming days we will have to examine and see how do we work."

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited the distraught family of Sarabjit at the residence of Rajumar Verka, Vice Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes. Rahul hugged Dalbir while offering his condolences.

While there was unanimity in holding Pakistan responsible for Sarabjit's death, the Indian government also came under attack from BJP, Trinamool Congress and Akali Dal for its "indifference" in handling of the Sarabjit episode.