Sarabjit Singh was 49 when he was first put in jail in Pakistan on August 30, 1990. He was given a death sentence by the Lahore anti-terrorism court on October 3, 1991.
He was convicted for his alleged involvement in a series of bombings in Pakistan Punjab in 1990, that killed 14 people.
Though a mercy petition was submitted to the Pakistan president, it was dismissed in 2008. Thereafter, two mercy petitions were submitted to the Pakistan president on February 2, 2010 and June 18, 2010 — both of which are pending.
Earlier this year, Sarabjit, had in a letter to his family, claimed that he was being “slow-poisoned” by jail authorities.
The attack on Sarabjit comes four months after the death of Indian prisoner, Chamel Singh in the same jail in January. Chamel Singh, arrested on espionage charges, was sentenced for five years in August 2010. He was brought dead to a government hospital in Lahore in January 15, allegedly after being violently assaulted inside the jail. His body was handed over to India in March.
Doctors said Sarabjit continued to be in a “deep coma” and on ventilator on Saturday. X-rays, MRI and CT scans had been taken, but tests will be done only after Sarabjit’s condition stabilises, they said. MEA spokesperson Akbaruddin added Indian officials were in regular contact with his doctors.