Boy who strayed across LoC handed over to Pak

Srinagar, April 7

The Army handed over a boy to the Pakistani authorities at the Titwal crossing point along the LoC in J&K’s Kupwara district on Wednesday, a defence spokesperson said here. Mausam, the son of Manzoor Ahmad and a resident of the Lipa area in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), was handed over to the Pakistani authorities at 11.50 am, he added.

“On the night of April 5, the youngster inadvertently crossed the LoC into Kupwara’s Karnah. He was identified as Mausam, son of Manzoor Ahmad from the Lipa area of PoK,” the defence spokesperson said, adding that the Indian troops took due care of the boy and the Pakistani authorities were informed of his whereabouts.

Following an interaction between the authorities of both countries on the hotline, the Indian side handed over the boy to Pakistani officials at the Titwal crossing point as a humanitarian gesture, he said.

“The boy was presented with clothes and sweets. On the occasion of his repatriation, representatives of the Karnah civil administration were present,” the spokesperson said.

He said such instances had been reported earlier also due to the proximity of villages along the LoC on either side. “However, the Indian side has always been prompt in returning individuals,” he added. — PTI