Two Pakistani brothers that had mistakenly entered the Indian territory and were arrested near the Indo-Pak borders were freed in less than 48 hours to walk back into their village in Sialkote district of Pakistan after crossing the International Border.
As a step to strengthen Indo-Pak peace process after Eid ceasefire, "we handed over brother duo to Pak authorities at a flag meeting between Border Security Force (BSF) and Pak rangers at Octerio border out post today," BSF commandant Rajesh Gupta told PTI here today.
Gupta, who looks after the operational area of International Border in R S Pura sector, further said these two brothers had ignorantly walked into Indian territory on December one. But out of humanitarian consideration they were sent back to their parents.
"We are very happy to return to our native border hamlet, Muradali in Sailkote. We thank Indian authorities and specially those who had treated us well in prison here, 16-year old Rasheed Ahmed said.
"Freedom has come to us so fast due to humanity shown by the Government of India," he said, urging both governments of India and Pakistan to release detenues in their respective jails as a goodwill gesture. "As India did in my case," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"Freedom has come to us so fast due to humanity shown by the Government of India," he said, urging both governments of India and Pakistan to release detenues in their respective jails as a goodwill gesture. "As India did in my case," he said.
{{/usCountry}}They were also given some gifts by the BSF authorities while leaving for the native place in Pakistan.
Although the duo walked to freedom, there are over 11 more boys between age group of 13 to 19 currently undergoing jail term in different jails in j k for mistakenly crossing into India.
"We want that both the governments to take human view of children who are languishing in different jails in the two countries and all of them should be freed and restored to their families on either side," state Tourism minister, Gulam Ahmed Mir said.
"We are hopeful that two countires will realise this at the earliest," he added.