A Former Spy Gives A Sneak Peek Into The Secret World Of RAW Agents

Unlike Sarabjeet's, the story of former Indian naval officer Kulbushan Jadhav, who Pakistan sentenced to death may not grab many eyeballs. But his ordeal wouldn't be any different than that of Sarabjeet's or any other Indian who continues to be in Pakistan's custody.

A few months back, IndiaTimes had spoken to Vinod Vinod Sawhney, 61, who spent 11 years in Pakistani jails before he manged to make a return to India in 1988. Like Sarabjeet and Jadhav, Sawhney too was accused of espionage, but destiny wished him to live unlike many others who never returned. Sawhney narrated the horrifying story of being a captive in Pakistan.

Vinod Sawhney, 61, who spent 11 years in Pakistani Jails, returned to India in 1988. Though it's a rule that names of agents of Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) shouldn't be made public, Vinod who's not in service anymore certainly is an exception.

"Our life is far more challenging than they show you in movies. Movies don't even show even half of the challenges and atrocities, a spy goes through before and after getting caught on enemy land. I know because I have spent 11 years in Pakistan jails and also know who didn't return and their bodies were thrown in gutters by Pakistanis," said Vinod Sawhney, who now heads Jammu Ex-sleuths Association which protests and raise demands of the families of those who got caught in countries like Pakistan, only to be disowned by government.

Sawhney tells that he was taxi driver before he was lured to work as a sleuth by an intelligence official, who had boarded his taxi as a passenger. Sawhney was taken in by the man's beguiling offer of a government job.

Timesalert.com

"People talk about Sarabjeet and how he was killed in Pakistan jail. But there are hundred of other Sarabjeets languishing in Pakistan jails and nobody bothers about them. Like soldiers fighting at border with weapons, we too fight for the country and that too in den of the enemy. Government should take care of us and our families," added Sawhney.

AFP

Sawhney was sent to Pakistan in 1977 and was arrested in the same year. After interrogation and trial, he was sentenced to jail for eleven years.

"Living in Pakistan jails is worse than dying. Pakistanis kill your inner being daily before they kill your body one day. The torture is beyond explaining and let me tell you that people like Sarabjeet were among a few lucky ones whose story came out because Pakistan jails are filled with such people whom nobody will even ever get to know about. Forget respect while being alive, even after deaths, their bodies are thrown into sewage and garbage only to be eaten by dogs," added Sawhney.

In March 1988, he was sent back to India. After running from pillar to post for his dues, Sawhney realised that justice takes a long and winding road and he along with fellow members of his organisation are gradually walking up the steep hill along this road.

"Not only me, there are many who returned to India and ran from pillar to post, but didn't get their due. I am even okay if government disown us when we get caught, but they don't even take care of our families. How can one do this with us? Many like me spent prime of their youth in jail without seeing our families. The state should treat us like soldiers and take care of our loved one," rued Sawhney.