Arrested near LoC, three PaK boys to be repatriated by Indian Army
According to an Army officer quoted in the local media, these three kids had crossed the Line of Control inadvertently while fishing
SRINAGAR (J&K) — Indian Army stated on Friday that three young boys from Pakistan-administered Kashmir who were arrested along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch two days ago are being returned.
At a news conference today, Commander 10 Infantry KG Brigade said that on August 18, 2021, approximately 3:45 PM, Indian Army soldiers posted near the LoC detected some suspicious movement through a well-coordinated and maintained monitoring system.
According to local media reports, he further stated that a cordon was launched immediately and three persons were detained. These individuals turned out to be young minors, ranging in the age group from 9 to 17 years.
‘Crossed the LoC inadvertently while fishing’
He said that while carrying out fishing activities, these three youngsters unintentionally crossed the LoC.
According to the Indian Army officer, there was a fourth person who returned, and the soldiers did not open fire because he too was a child.
The officer said the children claimed to be residents of Troti Darmshall and Chattra, which is beyond the LoC.
‘Indian Army made their stay pleasant, providing all necessities’
He, however, added that the youngsters were lovingly cared for by the Indian Army and offered the required necessities for a pleasant stay.
The boys were identified as Umair Rahim (9) son of Abdul Rahim of Troti Chattra; Arbaz Rahim (13) son of Abdul Rahim of Troti Chattra; and Danyal Malik (17), son of Mohammad Niyaz Ali of Lassi Mang Chattra.
Sana and Laiba, two young girls who crossed the LoC under similar conditions on December 6, and Haider Ali, a mentally challenged individual, who crossed the LoC on December 31 last year, were earlier returned to PaK, according to the Army officer.
The military control line (LoC) between India and Pakistan
The Line of Control (LoC) is a military control line that separates Indian and Pakistani-controlled areas of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is not a legally recognized international border, but it functions as a de facto border.
It was created as part of the Shimla Agreement, signed at the end of the Indo-Pakistan War in 1971, when the two countries agreed to call the ceasefire line “Line of Control” and vowed to observe it regardless of their respective locations.
Except for minor differences, the line is nearly identical to the 1949 cease-fire line.