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Srinagar: A 12-year-old boy was apprehended along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district.
The boy entered Rajouri’s Nowshera sector from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) Friday night and was detained by an Indian Army patrol unit.
“A patrol of the Indian Army along the Line of Control (LoC) apprehended a 12-year-old intruder from Pakistan- occupied Kashmir (PoK) who had crossed over to this side of LoC late last evening in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district”, defence spokesman was quoted as saying by a news agency.
The boy has been identified as Ashfaq Ali Chauhan, son of a retired soldier of Pakistan Army’s Baluch Regiment, Hussain Malik. Malik is a resident of the Dunger Pel village in Bhimber district in PoK.
Ashfaq was found moving suspiciously near the Line of Control and surrendered immediately on being challenged by the Indian Army patrol.
According to a statement released by officials, the boy is believed to have been sent over by terrorists in connivance with the Pakistan Army to probe routes for infiltration across the LoC.
“In gross violation of human rights, the terrorists along with Pakistan Army have no compunction in using innocent children to probe through dangerous minefileds in a heavily militarised zone on the Line of Control to ascertain safe passage for the terrorists attempting to infiltrate,” the statement said.
“Such inhuman and ruthless acts show the desperation among the terrorists to stoop to low levels of unethical behaviour,” the statement added.
The boy has been handed over to Jammu and Kashmir Police for further investigation.
