Indian boy who stowed away on Samjhauta Exp to be sent home

A six-year-old Indian boy who mistakenly crossed into Pakistan by stowing away on the Samjhauta Express train is being sent back today, an official said.

A six-year-old Indian boy who mistakenly crossed into Pakistan by stowing away on the Samjhauta Express train is being sent back today, an official said.

HT Image

The boy, who identified himself as Rajat, said his parents were dead and that he had entered the train to beg.

Col Sher Jung of the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers said Indian authorities had apparently failed to spot the boy when he entered the train.

"The boy is innocent. We cannot charge him for any offence. It is the mistake of Indian authorities (that he entered the train)," Pakistan Rangers spokesman Nadeem Raza said.

The Pakistan Rangers have asked India's Border Security Force to take back the boy.

"We are waiting for the BSF officials to come and take the boy home," Raza said.