As India celebrates Independence Day, freedom eludes Odia war veteran languishing in Pak jail

While the Nation gears up to celebrate the 77th Independence Day on Tuesday to mark India’s liberation from British rule, there are soldiers guarding our borders who protect that hard-earned independence every moment of the day.

There is one such soldier from Odisha, who despite fighting valiantly in the wars, is forced to languish in a Pakistani jail since 1965.

Patri family in Kalyani village under Bhadrak’s Dhamnagar block has been waiting for the return of Anand Patri. Anand who fought in both the 1962 Indo-China war and the 1965 Indo-Pak war has been missing since 1965.

The Patri family who almost lost all their hopes of getting Anand back found a glimmer of optimism when they received news in 2003 about a person named Nasim Gopal serving time in a Pakistani jail. The picture of Gopal was identified by the Patri family as Anand.

The struggle began after that. Anand’s son, Bidyadhar Patri followed all channels through which he can reach out to his father and secure his return to India. He even met the Human Rights Minister of Pakistan, but all in vain.

“I have been trying to attract the attention of the government since 2003. I have been to the Wagah border, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Gujarat and met many politicians and influential people, but in vain,” rued Bidyadhar.

“I want an inquiry in this regard and the release of my father from Pakistan jail,” he said.

“Had the government had intent, then my grandfather would not have been behind bars in an enemy country for decades. He has been in jail for his entire life,” said Anand’s grandson, Bibhuti Bhusan Patri.