Sarabjit's body handed over to family

The body of Sarabjit Singh, who died after a brutal attack by inmates in a Pakistani jail, was on Thursday night handed over to his family after the post-mortem.

A contingent of Punjab Police led by Senior Superintendent of police Tarn-Taran Raj Jeet Singh handed over Sarabjit's body to his family at Bikhiwind village for a state funeral on Friday.

Earlier, Sarabjit's body was airlifted to his village and sent to GovernmentHospital at Patti where a team of six doctors of government-run Amritsar Medical college conducted the second post-mortem.

The second post-mortem was conducted as per his family's wish to "know the cause behind his death". The first autopsy was conducted at Pakistan's JinnahHospital where Sarabjit died.

Postmortem was also video recorded. Earlier in the day, the body of 49-year-old Sarabjit was brought from Lahore by a special Air India aircraft. Sarabjit, the second Indian prisoner to die in Pakistan's notorious Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore this year, was brutally attacked on Friday last by six fellow inmates when he and other prisoners were brought out of their cells for a break.

The Punjab government has announced a financial assistance of Rs one crore for the family of Sarabjit and declared a three-day state mourning. Flags will fly half mast on all government buildings and there will be no official ceremonial functions during this period, an official spokesman said.

The Centre also announced ex-gratia payment of Rs 25 lakh for Sarabjit's family from Prime Minister's Relief Fund.