Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 8: After about 53 hours in custody of Rangers, Pakistan handed over a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan, who had accidentally crossed over to their side on Wednesday, at Octroi Post in Suchetgarh sector of RS Pura tehsil late this afternoon.
Satyasheel Yadav, 30 years old BSF jawan of 33 battalion stationed in Akhnoor sector, was handed over to BSF Commandant Viresh Kumar by Lt Col Waqar Ahmed of 12 Chenab Rangers on Pakistan side of Octroi Post at 4.18 pm after a wait of about an hour as schedule repatriation of the jawan had been fixed for 3.30 pm.
The BSF and Rangers’ official exchanged papers before Yadav was formally handed over to the BSF, official sources told the Excelsior.
BSF Director General DK Pathak, who had specially flown here and camped in Suchetgarh sector to monitor return of the BSF jawan from Pakistan, told newspersons that the BSF jawan was hale and hearty and had been treated very well by the Rangers with no complaint of mishandling or misbehaviour.
In fact, the BSF chief went on to express gratitude to the Rangers for their good behaviour with the BSF jawan saying he was grateful that they treated him well.
Immediately after the jawan was handed over to the BSF at 4.18 pm and brought to the Indian side at around 4.20 pm, he was taken for debriefing. Few minutes later, the BSF DG inter-acted with the jawan and inquired his condition.
“The debriefing would continue for some more time as the BSF officers would like to know as to what kind of questioning Satyasheel Yadav was subjected to in Pakistan during past two days as he had been captured by the Rangers opposite Pargwal-Khour sector at 11 am on Wednesday after he was swept away to other side of the International Border (IB) in strong currents of river Chenab due to mechanical fault in their motor boat. The boat had also landed on Pakistan side, which the Rangers also returned today to the BSF.
“Yadav was handed over to us at 4.18 pm near border pillar 918 along the IB. The trooper was well and was taken to nearby border post where the BSF DG and other force commanders met him,” he said.
Yadav, who was dressed in his dark green combat fatigue, walked into the Indian soil flanked by his seniors after completion of paper formalities in the flag meeting on Pakistan side of Octroi Post.
Doctors of BSF conducted a health check up on the trooper and declared him fully fit.
Yadav will be administered a de-briefing session by the intelligence wings of the BSF and central security agencies after sometime, sources said adding it will be done sooner than later.
Looking tired, the trooper, dressed in his dark green combat fatigue, walked into the Indian soil flanked by his Commandant Viresh Kumar and two other officers who met a three-member Rangers team led by their Wing Commander rank officer.
The handover of Yadav took place in the flag meeting in which Commandant Viresh Kumar of BSF and Lt Col Waqar Ahmad of 12 Chenab were joined by three officers each.
Yadav is a resident of village Ranipura in Firozabad district of Uttar Pradesh and has three children. He joined the country’s largest border guarding force in 2005.
“They (Rangers) treated him (Yadav) very well throughout their custody. We are grateful to them. The Pak authorities interrogated our jawan which I think is not uncommon with any security force doing when they find an unauthorised entry in their area,” the BSF Director General told reporters after the handover.
Pathak said the return of Yadav has been made in “record time” and didn’t agree with a questioner that the arrest was delayed by Pakistan.
Pathak narrated the incident that took place on Wednesday morning in which seven jawans of the BSF were conducting regular patrolling in the waters of river Chenab, whose engine suddenly failed around 11 am. He said other jawans swam to safety and were rescued while Yadav, who didn’t know swimming was saved by life jacket but strong currents of the water took him to Pakistan side, where he was captured.
“The Government of India and BSF made collective and synchronized efforts to secure safe release of the BSF jawan, which was obtained in record time,’’ Pathak said adding he was not aware whether the ISI had interrogated the jawan but said questioning of an unauthorized person, who lands in other country’s territory is not uncommon.
“Though it was an accident, the entry of the BSF jawan into the Pakistan territory was unauthorized. They (the Pakistan Rangers) had right to find out the reasons of unauthorized entry into their territory,’’ he asserted.
Refuting the allegations that Yadav was paraded before the media in Pakistan, Pathak said he was asked only couple of questions by the media persons and there was there was no report that the jawan was compelled to answer any question.
“Whatever questions the jawan was asked were obvious,’’ he said adding that the Rangers have also returned the boat to the BSF, which had reached on Pakistan side of the border.
To a question on failure of the boat, he said there was nothing unusual in it as engine of the boast had failed. It happens sometime, he added.
Replying to a question on infiltration attempts and ceasefire violations on the International Border, Pathak said there has been no successful infiltration attempt in their area on the IB. He declined to speculate on number of the militants trying to infiltrate into this side.
“Due to efforts of the BSF, neither any infiltration attempt (by the militants) has succeeded on the IB now we will allow any infiltration attempt to succeeded,’’ he said.
On ceasefire violations, the BSF chief said if they attack the BSF, obviously they will get befitting reply.
A BSF handout issues after the handover of the BSF jawan said the flag meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. Both the sides reiterated their commitment to uphold peace and tranquility on border and extend all cooperation to each other in dealing with emergent incidents like this in a proactive and positive manner.
It said after Yadav accidentally reached Pakistan, the Rangers were contacted immediately through established procedures to trace and return the constable. Pakistan Rangers acted promptly on BSF request and later intimated safe custody of BSF constable, who has been handed over today afternoon.
The handout, which was issued by DIG (G) Branch, Jammu Frontiers, Dharmendra Pareek, said the DG BSF expressed relief over safe return of Yadav and appreciated him for his grit and morale under trying circumstances.
He expressed the deep concern of Government of India and BSF over the safety of the troops deployed on border and reassured full support and welfare of all personnel. The hectic efforts at both the level of BSF and Govt of India have resulted in handing over of the constable by Pak Rangers. The prompt response of Pak Rangers was also appreciated by the DG BSF.
Pathak said the BSF was ready with its winter management strategy to tackle any eventuality on the IB including infiltration attempts by the militants.
“Our winter management has proved successfully. We will further improve it this winter to thwart designs of the militants to infiltration during the winter months,” he added.
PTI adds: Earlier, Yadav told reporters in Pakistan that his boat accidentally strayed into the neighbouring land after it went out of control in strong river currents.
“My colleagues swam out but I do not know swimming. The boat took me into Pakistani territory. I jumped into water near a Pakistan post and was rescued by jawans of Pakistan Rangers,” he said in his narration of the events leading to his capture.
Yadav, flanked by Rangers’ officials, said he was made “comfortable” by them.
“They took my introduction. They helped me to the extent they could. They kept me better than what I had thought. I have no complaints. I am happy,” he said.
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