KL Report
SRINAGAR
The Indian army on Friday said that it handed over an elderly man from Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) to the concerned authorities after he had crossed the Line of Control (LoC) inadvertently in Uri sector of Baramulla district.
An army official told GNS: “72 year old Mangta Khan had inadvertently crossed over into the Indian Territory by crossing the Line of Control and had been apprehended by the alert troops deployed on ground, on 20 August, Wednesday at 4:00 pm in the Uri Sector.”
“The apprehended person was brought to Uri and after questioning to establish his identity, was made comfortable, provided medical aid & food, and was treated with empathy & civility due to a human being, even if he is from across the LoC,” he said, adding: “Inspite of no attempts being made from the Pak side to obtain information of the missing person, the Indian Army took the initiative and sent an urgent Hot Line Message to the Pak side. The message was initiated to inform them of the safety and well-being of Mangta Khan along with a request for a flag meeting so that the individual could be repatriated and united with his family at the earliest.”
The official said the flag meeting was held at the Chakothi Uri Crossing Point located close to the Kaman Aman Setu in Uri on 23 August, at 2:00 pm. “Mangta Khan was handed over to the Pak side along with a new set of Clothes and sweets for the family,” he said.
Pertinently, on August 8, a 30-year-old Satyasheel Yadav was handed over to Border Security Force (BSF) officials by the commanders of the Pakistan Rangers at the zero line at Octroi border post along the International Border (IB) in R S Pura sector of Jammu district after he was swept away into their territory by strong currents of Chenab River.
