'We knew Pakistan would ill-treat Kulbhushan Jadhav'

A young Kulbhushan Jadhav at the Vaishnodevi shrineIsnt it unfair that within the span of a year Kulbhushan was arrested and convicted by Pakistani authorities The Indian government has given evidence against criminals like Dawood Ibrahim and other terrorists Why doesnt Pakistan act against them in a similar manner asks Tulsidas Pawar childhood friend of Indian national and former naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav who was handed a death sentence by Pakistan on Monday for espionage and sabotage activities in Balochistan and KarachiAlso read Mumbai Kulbushan Jadhavs friends and relatives want Delhi to seek his releaseKulbhushan grew up in the NM Joshi Marg in central Mumbai His father worked for the Mumbai police His childhood friend Pawar described the exNavy official turned businessman as a very energetic and sportloving kid in school He completed his education from Ruia College he loved playing football and cricket with us Hed been our friend since childhood as he used to live opposite my building which has now become the crime branch office He later moved from here but always kept returning to meet his childhood friends Jadhav later moved to Andheri He has two children and his aging parents reside in PowaiKulbhushan Jadhav first from left with friends at the building he grew up inFamily needs himWe knew that Pakistan would illtreat Kulbhushan and take unjustified actions against him His family needs him and hence there should be positive steps taken to bring him back said Pawar who along with other friends started the Bring Kulbhushan Back campaign after Kulbhushans arrest on March 3 2016 Jadhav was held from Mashkel in Pakistans restive Balochistan province in a counterintelligence operation for allegedly being involved in espionage and sabotage activities in the countryAlso read Hanging Kulbhushan Jadhav will be premeditated murder IndiaAnother childhood friend Subroto Mukherjee told midday I have been his friend since we were 67 years old The news of his arrest last year was shocking and now the news of his conviction is so disappointing for all of us I havent been able to get in touch with his family since all of us are in a state of shock We are hoping and expecting something positive in the coming daysHis childhood friend Subroto Mukherjee PicSayyed Sameer AbediFamily to go to DelhiAs for Kulbhushans family relatives have not stopped pouring in at his parents Powai residence The entire family is in a state of shock and is not ready to speak to anyone Some of the relatives were seen crying while entering the home Heavy police presence has been deployed at the entry gate of their housing societyAlso read Pakistan not to extradite Kulbhushan Jadhav Sartaj Aziz tells SenateAccording to sources the family might leave for Delhi today to meet some officials from the Ministry of External Affairs regarding the death penalty awarded by the Pakistan court Sources said the family owns a farmhouse built on a plot of land at Satara that they bought five years ago However none of them have visited the farmhouse which is being looked after by a caretakerWith inputs from Suraj Ojha