Search the Internet          Tips

Pakistan releases cyclist Vikas Singh

Basharat Peer in New Delhi.

Vikas Singh, the cyclist from Lucknow who was arrested by Pakistani authorities for not possessing valid documents, was released on Saturday.

He had embarked on a world peace tour in 1987 and had visited 62 countries before being stopped on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Pakistan authorities signed the release orders on Friday as a goodwill gesture from before the Indo-Pakistan summit.

36-year-old Vikas Singh's father Dr Suren Singh was ecstatic when rediff.com broke the news to him.

"I came to know that orders for his release had been signed on Friday evening. But you are the first person to tell me that he has been released. I am very happy to know this," said Dr Suren Singh.

The moment Dr Singh informed his family, Vikas's mother Vidya Singh was on phone enquiring about Vikas in a choked voice: "Beta, who kidhar se aa raha hai? Kab aa raha hai, aap ko kuch pata hai kya?(where is he coming from, do you know anything?)"

Vikas's brother Vivek Singh asked incredulously, "Are you sure he has been released?"

After being reassured, Vivek was all praise for the media.

"We could not have managed anything without the help of the media. Had not the press not highlighted his case, Vikas might not have been released," he said.

RELATED REPORT:
Vikas Singh's case taken up with Pakistan

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report