Pakistan frees Indian national held for 27 years

Lahore:Pakistani authorities freed Indian national Gopal Das whose jail term was cut short by President Asif Ali Zardari on humanitarian grounds after he had spent 27 years in prison following his conviction for alleged involvement in espionage. Das was taken from Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail and handed over by Pakistani officials to their Indian counterparts at the Wagah land border. "The Indian prisoner Gopal Das has been handed over to Indian authorities," Pakistan Rangers spokesman Mahboob Hussain. Footage on television showed Das, who was handcuffed, walking to the land border post with a bag in his hands. The handcuffs were removed before he crossed the border. Das was sentenced to life imprisonment in June 1987 and was set to be released by the end of this year.