Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
India

Pakistan Frees Indian Soldier, Family Overjoyed

Darpan News Desk IANS, 21 Jan, 2017 02:36 PM
    Pakistan on Saturday released Indian Army soldier Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan, who had "inadvertently" crossed the LoC in September last year. Chavan was handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah-Attari joint check post, a Border Security Force (BSF) official confirmed in Amritsar.
     
    Chavan was handed over to Army authorities after his return to India, he said.
     
    Sepoy Chavan's kin and residents of his native village Bohivir in northern Maharashtra were overjoyed on his release. His family thanked authorities for securing his safe return.
     
    Chavan, 22, of 37 Rashtriya Rifles, was taken into custody by Pakistan Army after he "inadvertently" crossed the Line of Control (LoC) from Krishna Ghati sector in Jammu and Kashmir on September 29 last year.
     
    Pakistan Army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor said in a statement that Chavan "deserted his post at the LOC due to his grievances of maltreatment against his commanders". 
     
    "He wilfully crossed LOC on September 29, 2016 and surrendered himself to Pakistan Army," he said. 
     
    He added that "as a gesture of goodwill and in continuation of our efforts to maintain peace and tranquility along LoC and IB (International Border), Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan has been convinced to return to his own country and will be handed over to Indian authorities at Wagah Border on humanitarian grounds."
     
    The incident took place just hours after the Indian forces carried out surgical strikes on September 29 across the Line of Control to destroy terrorist launch pads.
     
    The Indian Army said that they had got confirmation by Pakistan military authorities that Chavan would be handed over at 3 p.m. and the soldier was finally handed over.
     
     
    "Sep Chandu Babulal Chavan crossed over to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir from own Krishna Ghati sector on September 29. In order to ensure his release the matter was taken up with Pakistani Military authorities through the existing hotline and scheduled DGMO level talks," the army statement said. 
     
    In Chavan's native village, scores of villagers came out into the streets to greet his family, who were overwhelmed by the unexpected turn of events, laughing and crying at the same time.
     
    Chavan's elder brother Bhushan said: "We are extremely grateful to the government for securing his safe release. We shall remain indebted to (Minister of State for Defence) Subhash Bhamre for all his help in ensuring his return home." 
     
    "It is unbelievable and the news is still sinking in. We are so happy... for us, its like all festivals -- Diwali, Holi -- coming together simultaneously and we shall celebrate when he comes home after such a long time," his married sister Rupali Patil said wiping away tears of joy.
     
    After hearing the news of Chavan's capture, his aged grandmother suffered a heart attack and died a few days later.
     
    Indian Army sources said that Chavan will go through a medical check up and will be subsequently debriefed.
     
    They said that since the soldier was coming from a "hostile nation", the army will have to check for any radicalisation that might have happened.
     
    Debriefing will help know what the soldier might have been subjected to, sources added.
     
     
    The surgical strikes in September last year came in the wake of an attack on an Indian army base near the town of Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18. Nineteen Indian soldiers died in the attack, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-backed militants, a claim flatly denied by Islamabad.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Akhilesh Wins 'Cycle' War, Blow To Mulayam

    Akhilesh Wins 'Cycle' War, Blow To Mulayam
    The Election Commission on Monday recognised the faction led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav as the Samajwadi Party and allotted it the 'cycle' symbol, dealing Akhilesh's father and party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav a huge blow.

    Akhilesh Wins 'Cycle' War, Blow To Mulayam

    Punjab Assembly Polls: Younger Voters Hold The Key For Ageing Leaders

    Punjab Assembly Polls: Younger Voters Hold The Key For Ageing Leaders
    In a population of over 28 million, there are over 19.7 million registered voters in Punjab -- 10.4 million males and 9.31million females.

    Punjab Assembly Polls: Younger Voters Hold The Key For Ageing Leaders

    I Am A Born Congressman, This Is My Ghar Wapsi: Navjot Singh Sidhu Joins Congress

    I Am A Born Congressman, This Is My Ghar Wapsi: Navjot Singh Sidhu Joins Congress
    Though, Sidhu may have called himself a born Congressman to woo the party veterans, a mention of his old statements against the Grand Old Party and its vice-president may leave him embarrassed.

    I Am A Born Congressman, This Is My Ghar Wapsi: Navjot Singh Sidhu Joins Congress

    Indian-American student wins $5,000 scholarship in US

    Indian-American student wins $5,000 scholarship in US
    Arth Patel, an Indian American student at the UCLA School of Dentistry, earned a $5,000 scholarship for his winning essay on how dental health contributes to the well being of children and families.

    Indian-American student wins $5,000 scholarship in US

    Navjot Sidhu Is 100 Per Cent In Congress: Amarinder Singh

    Navjot Sidhu Is 100 Per Cent In Congress: Amarinder Singh
    Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday said cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu was already a member of the Congress and will be contesting the assembly polls.

    Navjot Sidhu Is 100 Per Cent In Congress: Amarinder Singh

    Punjab Polls: Will 'Rahu Kaal' End For Congress?

    Punjab Polls: Will 'Rahu Kaal' End For Congress?
    Although two opinion polls have given different findings about which party will be the winner in Punjab, conventional wisdom is that the ruling Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine will have a hard time overcoming the anti-incumbency factor.

    Punjab Polls: Will 'Rahu Kaal' End For Congress?