Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said that the efforts to bring back Indian soldier who ‘inadvertently crossed the Line of Control’ is on and standard mechanism has been ‘activated’ at the level of Director Generals of Military Operation (DGMO) of India and Pakistan.
“There is a standard mechanism at the DGMO level, which has been activated,” Parrikar told reporters in Pune after a programme under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan organised by Pune Cantonment board on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
Chandu Babulal Chauhan (22) of 37 Rashtriya Rifles with weapons had inadvertently crossed over to the other side of the Line of Control and was captured by the Pakistani forces.
Yesterday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said that the government was making all efforts to secure the freedom of the jawan.
“The government has taken note of the media reports that say our soldier is in Pakistan captivity… India will take up the matter with Pakistan,” the Home Minister said.
News that Pakistan captured Chauhan came hours after India announced that it had on Wednesday night successfully conducted surgical strikes, killing more than 30 militants in PoK.
The Indian Army has clarified that the soldier was not part of the operation.
In a statement, Army said that such inadvertent crossing by soldiers and civilians are not unusual on either side, and they are returned through existing mechanisms.
