BSF jawan detained after inadvertently stepping into Pak territory
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According to sources, the BSF man, identified as constable PK Sahu of Hooghly district of West Bengal, was "assisting farmers access their cultivable land across the border fence alongside the International Border with Pakistan when he accidentally stepped five paces into the other country on Wednesday," sources said.
The farmers till agricultural land falling in the zero-line area along the International Border with special permission from the BSF, which deploys Kisan Guards during the planting or harvesting of crops to keep a vigil on the farmers.
The jawan, who in uniform and carrying his service rifle, was recently posted to the border area and was not fully aware of the demographic restrictions. He inadvertently crossed over into the Pakistan territory when he was trying to stand in shade under a tree and was immediately detained by the Pak Rangers, who confiscated his weapon.
After his detention, senior BSF officials rushed to Jallo Ke border outpost in Ferozepur and held a flag meeting with Pak Rangers till late on Wednesday night without any result.
The BSF officials are in touch with the Pak Rangers to ensure safe return of the jawan but did not get any response to their request to hold a flag meeting at Hussainiwala on Thursday.
BSF sources confirmed that the Pakistan Rangers had acknowledged the BSF constable's detention and had assured Indian side of his eventual return. "We are expecting a flag meeting sometime late tonight or tomorrow morning so we could get back our innocent jawan," said an official.
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The Pak Rangers released a photograph of arrested BSF jawan with a blindfold on Thursday.
The jawan's detention came just as India announced a series of stringent measures against the neighbouring country, including closure of the integrated check post (ICP) at Attari and stopping of customary handshake with Pakistan Rangers during the daily flag-lowering ceremony.
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