The mortal remains of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, who died after being brutally assaulted in a Pakistani jail, were today consigned to flames in his village with full state honours amid emotional scenes.

A contingent of Punjab Police reversed their arms and then fired shots in the air as a mark of respect to 49-year-old Sarabjit, who died yesterday in a Lahore hospital.

A large crowd comprising villagers and VIPs, including Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and representatives of other political parties bid a heartfelt adieu to Sarabjit, whose body was brought to Bikhiwind late last night, 23 years after he inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan.

Wrapped in the tricolour, the boday had been placed at a school ground for the people to pay their last respect.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Union Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur were among others present.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, has demanded action against all those who played a role in the assault on Sarabjit Singh. The commission called upon Islamabad and New Delhi to take urgent measures to prevent the incident from undermining bilateral ties and to improve the lot of detainees from the other country in each other’s prisons.

Amnesty International has said, Pakistan must protect Indian prisoners from violence in the country's jails.
Polly Truscott, Amnesty International's Deputy Asia Pacific Director said, Pkistan must now carry out an impartial, public investigation into this horrific attack on Sarabjeet and ensure that those responsible are promptly prosecuted in fair trials – including prison staff.

49-year-old Sarabjit, the second Indian prisoner to die in notorious Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore this year, was
brutally attacked on Friday by six fellow inmates as he and other prisoners were brought out of their cells for a break.

Another Indian prisoner Chamel Singh also died in the same jail in January.

Sarabjit was convicted of alleged involvement in bomb attacks in Punjab province that killed 14 people in 1990 and spent about 22 years in Pakistani prisons.

His mercy petitions were rejected by the courts and former President Pervez Musharraf.