Suo-motu notice on news-item appeared on PTC News Channel regarding death of Sarabjit Singh, NRI, in Bahrain

Ludhiana, August 30, 2013: Punjab State commission for NRIs, Chandigarh has suo-motu notice on the news-item appeared on PTC News Channel on August 27 this year, regarding death of Sarabjit Singh, an NRI, on August 21 this year in Bahrain.
The family members, who hail from Ludhiana, were in distress that they are poor persons and even cannot afford to bring the dead body. Harcharan Singh, (father of the deceased) resident of Gali No. 5, Indira Puri, Tajpur Road, Ludhiana, when contacted, has conveyed to the Commission that in fact his son Sarabjit Singh was burnt by some unknown persons and he died at Salmaniya Hospital, Manama, Bahrain on the same day. He was employed with M/S Rabab. The body has not been allowed to be air-lifted to India as they are pressurising that undertaking be given that no case would be filed against anyone. They belong to a very poor family and unable to process the matter for bringing the dead body of Sarabjit Singh.
The Commission has taken suo-motu cognizance provided under clause ( c) of section (2) of the Punjab State Commission for NRIs Act 2011.
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has formulated various schemes for the welfare of Overseas Indians, who are in distress. There is a scheme known as Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF). This scheme provides contingency expenditure incurred by the Indian Missions for carrying out welfare activities for Overseas Indian Citizens who are in distress. The scheme has various objects. One of the objects is to incur expenditure on incidentals and for airlifting the mortal remains to India or local cremation/burial of the deceased Overseas Indians in such cases where the sponsor is unable or unwilling to do so as per the contract and the family is unable to meet the cost.
The commission felt that this order be immediately send to Ministry of Overseas Indian affairs for taking necessary action at their end.
The Commission said the copy of the order be also sent to DC/Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, to pursue and co-ordinate between the aggrieved family and the Ministry of Overseas Indian affairs, as the matter is important and of emergent nature. The action taken report be submitted to the Commission on or before the next date listed on September 17.