An 11-year-old boy, from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), was handed over to Pakistan authorities, four days after he inadvertently crossed into the Indian side in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, a Defence spokesman said.
Mohammad Abdullah was apprehended by the Army on June 24 in the Degwar sector along the Line of Control (LoC) and handed over to the police on the same day for necessary formalities, he said.
“Abdullah has been released on humanitarian grounds, owing to his young age and to boost the confidence building measures between India and Pakistan,” the spokesman said.
The boy was repatriated today at the Chakan Da Bagh crossing point after the police completed the formalities for his repatriation, he said.
The spokesman said that Abdullah has been presented a set of new clothes and a box of sweets. The Army stands by its ethos of being a humane force and maintains sensitivity while dealing with innocent civilians, he said.
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This also seems to be another moment to cherish as the Indian troops have definitely had humanity as their priority as there was also another incident about a boy crossing the border 3 days ago.
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An eight-year-old boy hailing from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was detained after he inadvertently crossed over to this side of the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district last night.
The minor was intercepted by troops guarding the LoC in Degwar sector late last night and handed over to the local Police Station this morning, a police official said.
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He said the boy had apparently crossed the heavily-guarded LoC inadvertently and would be sent back tomorrow after completion of legal formalities.
The official said on June 15, two Pakistani nationals were taken into custody by BSF troops along the International Border in Samba district but later handed over to Pakistani Rangers the next day after it was confirmed that they had inadvertently crossed the border.