The Bhorvihir village in Dhule district of north Maharashtra on Saturday erupted in joy after the release of Indian soldier and son-of-the-soil Chandu Babulal Chavan (22), who had been captured by the Pakistani Army on Thursday after he “inadvertently crossed over” to the other side of the loC in September last year.
As soon as the news of Chandu’s release by the Pakistani authorities reached Bhorvihir village, a large number of people gathered outside his house and celebrated his return. They burst crackers and distributed sweets present there and also among the people elsewhere in the village.
The atmosphere that prevailed at Bhorvihir was quite contrast to the one that existed in the village soon after Chandu was captured by the Pakistani Army on September 29 last year.
Hours after reports that her grandson Chandu, an Indian soldier from 37 Rashtriya Rifles, had been captured by the Pakistani Army reached his native village, his grandmother leelabai Chinda Patil (Chavan)-who had been extremely close to Chandu – passed away on the night of September 29.
"It is a big relief for us. I would like to thank the Government of India, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs. I would also like to thank the Indian Army and also the Director General of Military Operations for taking up the issue with his Pakistani counterpart," Chandu’s elder brother Bhushan Chavan said.
Bhushan, who is also with the Indian Army and is currently posted at Jamnagar, said: “I am a soldier myself. I would be indebted to everyone who contributed to my brother’s release. I would like to express my special thanks to Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre, who hails from my hometown, for pursuing my brother’s case with the authorities concerned”.
Chandu, who originally hails from Samner village in Pachora tehsil in Jalgaon district, lost his father and mother when he was very young. He, his elder brother and sister were brought up by his maternal uncle at Bhorvihir.
Having undergoing military training at Ahmednagar, Chandu joined the Indian Army three years ago. Posted currently in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir with from 37 Rashtriya Rifles, Chandu had gone missing on September 29 last year.