Bring back prisoners of 1971 war, families tell Centre

Even as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) began its hearing in the Kulbhusan Jadav case, there is now a growing demand for the Centre to bring back prisoners of the 1971 war with Pakistan from the neighbouring country.

Six soldiers of Jammu and Kashmir had gone missing in the 1971 war. For the last 46 years, their families have been struggling hard to trace their whereabouts.

For instance, Sepoy Jagdish Lal of 2-Mahar had left for the war leaving behind two minor daughters and his five-month pregnant wife, Rano Devi. Lal's family said that for the last 46 years, there have been several examples to prove that Pakistan took him as a prisoner of war.

"We wish that the Centre brings him and the other soldiers back safely to our country," said Bansi Lal, Jagdish Lal's son-in-law.