Odisha Man Returns From Pakistan Jail After 20 Years

50-year-old Birju Kullu, who had wandered off the border into Pakistan and served imprisonment for 20 years in Lahore, reached his native village in Odisha's Sundargarh district on Friday.

ANI

Hundreds of villagers welcomed Birju with dances and songs in the tribal language of Sadri after he reached his native Jangateli village. Kullu had left home at the age of 25 years and worked at different places before moving to Punjab. Then, he had landed in Pakistan jail after inadvertently trespassing into the neighbouring country.

A Joyous Homecoming!

Birju Kullu gets grand welcome from Jangateli villagers as he returns to his native place after spending 20 years in Pakistan prison pic.twitter.com/p7BY5xNCJX

¡ª OTV (@otvnews) November 13, 2020

He was imprisoned in the Pakistan jail on suspicion of being a spy from India, said an official.

In wait for their son to return, Birju¡¯s mother Tina first died and father Karnus passed away in 2009. His elder sister Bernadette is alive and married at Kokra village of nearby Rajgangpur. His extended family, though, is excited on having him back. Cousin Manas Kullu (27) said he wants Birju to stay with his family as there is no one to look after him.

It was an emotional moment for his family members after they got reunited after over two decades.

Sources said Birju has forgotten Odia and tribal dialect 'Sadri' and has been communicating in Hindi language.

ANI

"I am happy that I am back at home," Birju said to TNN. However, he could not recollect how he reached the border and landed in Lahore jail.

A team of district administration officials had visited Amritsar in Punjab last week to bring him to his village. He was kept in quarantine at a Covid hospital there. After Birju reached Sundargarh, he was taken to Kutra block office where he was felicitated by the Block Development Officer (BDO).

"Birju will be provided with all benefits under the various government schemes. He will be given an Aadhaar card and ration card. A house and loan will also be sanctioned for him," said Kutra BDO Manas Ranjan Ray told Times Now News.