Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan Handed Over to India

Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan, who crossed over to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir from Jammau and Kashmir Krishna Ghati sector on 29 September, 2016 was finally handed over to Indian army on Saturday.

India has taken up his release with Pakistani Military authorities through the existing Hotline and scheduled DGMO level talks. His presence was acknowledged by Pakistan on Oct.7, 2016.

“The matter has been continuously raised in scheduled DGMO level talks since then and the issue was also taken up diplomatically through our High Commission in Pakistan and Ministry of External Affairs, said a statement by the Indian army.

On Saturday, (21 Jan 17) at 1 PM, “we finally got confirmation by Pakistan Military Authorities that Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan would be handed over to Indian Authorities at Wagah border at 3 PM Indian time,” said Indian Army PRO Col. Rohan Anand.

Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan was finally handed over to Indian authorities at Wagah Crossing Point at 3:45 PM on Saturday, said the Indian army confirming the handover.

The border crossing has been a major issue in bilateral ties with Pakistan and Indian Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting about the details of Madhukar Gupta Committee report on the issue of gaps and vulnerability in border fencing along Indo-Pakistan border, in New Delhi on September 22, 2016.

The National Security Advisor (NSA), Shri Ajit Doval, the Home Secretary,  Rajiv Mehrishi, the Deputy NSA, Dr. Arvind Gupta, the Secretary (Border Management),Susheel Kumar, the Home Secretary (Retd.), Madhukar Gupta and other senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Defence have been working on the committee recommendations to stem the border crossing issue by civilians and army personnel.