Protesters held a candle light vigil demanding justice in Sarabjit Singh murder case | Photo Credit: PTI

Lahore: Two prime suspects facing charges of murdering Indian national Sarabjit Singh in a Pakistani jail were acquitted by a district and sessions in Pakistan court on Saturday. Amir Tandba and Mudasir Munir who were Singh’s fellow inmates at Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore allegedly tortured him to death in 2013. Additional District and Sessions Judge Moin Khokar ordered the release of suspects after witnesses withdrew their statements, the Dawn reported.

Singh died in a Lahore hospital after suffering severe injuries in the head after being hit by bricks and other blunt weapons. He breathed his five days after being admitted to Lahore Jinnah Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in May, 2013.

Singh had been sentenced to death on charges of espionage and alleged involvement in a string of bombings in Pakistan in 1990 – his sentencing created a huge outcry in India. Several mercy petitions were filed by his lawyers none of which were granted.

India had asked Pakistan to conduct a probe into the murder of the 49-year-old. Singh’s sister Dalbit Kaur had said there was no need for a probe if the attack was planned by Pakistan government itself, if not, she demanded to investigate how Sarabjit’s security was compromised and he was attacked with bricks and iron rods. The then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanded “justice” from Pakistan for the slain Indian citizen.

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Singh was convicted of spying for India and had been lodged in Pakistan jails for 16 years before his murder. Singh’s family had insisted that he was a case of mistaken identity as he strolled into Pakistan after getting drunk. Singh illegally crossed into Pakistan on August 29, 1990. He was arrested and charged with involvement in bombings of Faisalabad, Multan and Lahore that killed 14 Pakistani citizens.