MP B-Pharmacy Student Prasannjeet Rangari Freed After 14 Years in Pakistan Jail

Balaghat/Amritsar, Madhya Pradesh: After 14 long years in a Pakistani prison, Madhya Pradesh resident Prasannjeet Rangari, also known as Sunil Ade, has finally been released. The 38-year-old, who had crossed the border due to mental health issues during his B-Pharmacy studies, was among seven Indian nationals freed by Pakistan on Saturday.

Journey from Student to Prisoner

Prasannjeet, originally from Khairlanji village in Balaghat district, had shown strong academic promise. His father, Lopchand, had taken loans to send him to Guru Ramdas Khalsa Institute of Technology, Jabalpur, for a B-Pharmacy degree. After registering with the MP State Pharmacy Council in 2011, he planned further studies, but deteriorating mental health forced him to abandon academics and return home.

Following a period of wandering, he eventually crossed into Pakistan, where he remained wrongfully imprisoned for 14 years. His family only learned of his detention in 2021. His sister, Sanghmitra Khobragade, tirelessly petitioned authorities to secure his release, a dream that finally came true this week.

Reunion and Relief

Prasannjeet’s sister expressed overwhelming joy, stating she intends to surprise their mother with the news. She also conveyed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for facilitating the release.

He was handed over by the Pakistan Rangers to the BSF at the Attari-Wagah border, after which Indian authorities completed customs and immigration formalities. The freed nationals were transported to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar, for medical examinations.

Currently, Prasannjeet is at the Red Cross building near Manjitha police station in Amritsar, awaiting arrangements to return to Balaghat. Family members continue to coordinate with local authorities for his safe transfer home.

Other Indians Released

Along with Prasannjeet, the following Indian nationals were released: Joginder Singh, Shinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Vishal Alike, Harinder Singh, and Ratanpal Singh, hailing from districts including Firozpur, Ludhiana, and Jalandhar.