Prasannjeet was detained by Pakistani authorities on October 1, 2019, from Batapur and was lodged in jail under the assumed name Sunil Ade. His family in Balaghat remained unaware of his whereabouts for years. It was only in December 2021 that Sanghamitra received information confirming that her brother was alive and imprisoned across the border. Since then, she persistently approached local administration, police officials and other channels, seeking his repatriation.
Following his release, Prasannjeet completed immigration and customs formalities at the Attari-Wagah border and was shifted to the Red Cross Bhawan on Majitha Road and later to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar for routine medical examination. Officials said standard procedures are being followed before he is formally handed over to his family.
Balaghat Collector Mrinal Meena confirmed that the family had sought administrative assistance due to their weak financial condition. “Necessary arrangements are being made for the family members to travel to Amritsar. The village secretary is coordinating the process,” he said.
The news has brought visible relief to Prasannjeet’s family. On February 1, Khairlanji police informed them of his release. Soon after, Sanghamitra spoke to her brother on the phone for the first time in years, following a call facilitated by the Amritsar police. Family members described the moment as deeply emotional. Prasannjeet’s father, Lopchand Rangari, passed away during the years of uncertainty, never knowing his son would return.
Prasannjeet had gone missing from home in 2017. He had briefly travelled to Bihar before disappearing again. After extensive but unsuccessful searches, the family had almost given up hope. His mother, while relieved, has expressed concern about her son’s mental and physical condition after years of incarceration.
A bright student, Prasannjeet had studied B. Pharmacy at an institute in Jabalpur and was registered with the Madhya Pradesh State Pharmacy Council in 2011. Family members say his mental health began to deteriorate later, disrupting his education and life.
As the family prepares to reunite in Amritsar, Sanghamitra’s perseverance stands out as the key force behind bringing Prasannjeet back home, closing a painful chapter that lasted nearly a decade.
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