Chandu Babulal Chavan, the Indian Army soldier who “inadvertently” crossed the line of Control (loC) in Jammu & Kashmir and was captured by the Pakistan Army on September 29 last year, was released on Saturday. The 22-year-old soldier returned through the Attari-Wagah border, Amritsar following which the Border Security Force(BSF) handed him over to the Army. He will undergo medical examination at the Western Command, Chandigarh and will be able to return home after related procedures by the Army are completed.
He had strayed into Pakistan territory across Mendhar sector in Poonch the day the Indian Army conducted surgical strikes inside Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and destroyed terrorist infrastructure besides killing 35 to 40 militants. The Government had denied that Chavan was part of the strikes and maintained he had strayed across the border. He was then deployed in 37 Rashtriya Rifles and posted close to the loC.
learning about the incident, then Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) lt General Ranbir Singh talked to his Pakistani counterpart the same day on September 29 and urged for Chavan’s early release. The DGMOs subsequently took up the matter two or three times more apart from the External Affairs Ministry also making efforts to bring back the soldier.
The Army then said “inadvertent crossings by Army personnel and civilians were not unusual on either side and people were returned through existing mechanisms”.
The Army in a statement on Saturday said: “Chandu Babulal Chavan crossed over to POK from Krishna Ghati Sector on September 29. In order to ensure his release the matter was taken up with Pakistani Military authorities through the existing hotline and scheduled DGMO level talks. His presence was acknowledged by Pakistan on October 7 last year.
“Today (21 January, 2017) at 1PM, we finally got confirmation by Pakistan Military Authorities that Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan would be handed over to Indian Authorities at Wagah at 3 pm Indian time. The Jawan was finally handed over to our representatives at Wagah Crossing Point at approx 3.45 pm.”
Pakistan foreign office in a statement issued from Islamabad, however, said, “ The Indian soldier deserted his check-post in the Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir and crossed the loC over severe grievances with his superiors and leadership. Pakistan convinced the soldier to return to India being an Indian national and address his grievances through local grievance mechanisms.”
The statement also said, “The decision of the Government of Pakistan to return the Indian soldier is based on humanitarian grounds and the commitment to ensure peace and tranquility at the loC and the Working Boundary. Despite Indian belligerence, Pakistan believes in peaceful neighbourhood and rejects all actions aimed at undermining regional peace and security.”
Pakistan army also issued a similar statement early in the day announcing the handing over of Chavan. “Pak Army returning Indian sldr to India as goodwill,” a tweet said.
Meanwhile, Chavan’s brother Bhushan Chavan, who is also a soldier, said he is thankful to the Army for its effort. “I am thankful to DGMO and Army for the efforts they have made. I am never going to forget this. I am also a soldier and will continue to do my duty with full honesty till my last breath,” he said. “I am grateful to the villagers and everybody who prayed for not just my brother but for a soldier of this country,” Bhushan said. He also thanked Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre, local MP, for taking steps to get Chandu released. The soldier belongs to Borvihir village, Dhule district of Maharashtra. His grandmother had died of shock following the news of his capture by Pakistani troops.
Bhushan also said the ashes of his grandmother can finally be immersed. “We had decided that until he returned her ashes will not be immersed in river. That day has now come,” he said adding the family received a call from Bhamre informing about Chandu’s release. Bhushan had also written to the human rights organisations in Pakistan, seeking help to secure his brother’s release and said he even tweeted to Pakistan’s Ambassador at United Nations and sought her help.
Bhamre said his Ministry and the DGMO were constantly trying their level best to secure the release of the jawan “who was in Pakistan’s custody after he inadvertently crossed the loC.”
He said the soldier will be able to return home after the Army completes due procedure.
“The External Affairs Ministry was also involved. All efforts were made to secure the release of the soldier and the result is that he has been released today,” the Minister said. “Our DGMO was in touch with his Pakistani counterpart. last week we were told that he will be released soon,” he said.