Children, mentally unfit new infiltrators from Pak: BSF

 

Raakhi Jagga

Ferozepur: April 8

Published in The Indian Express.

Two months ago, a Pakistan resident was found crossing the International Border (IB) near Abohar. He was shot at. The injured man in his early 20s was handed over to the Ferozepur police. After treatment, when the police started interrogation, he was found to be hearing and speech impaired.

Asgar Ali, 55, crossed over to India through the Jodhewala post in Jalalabad. A medical examination found him to be suffering from a mental disorder and he was sent back to Pakistan.

Asif Parvez, 18, was arrested by the Border Security Force near Fazilka in November last. The interrogation team found him mentally unfit and the Pak Rangers claimed he had inadvertently crossed over. Asif was sent back to his country through the Wagah Border.

More and more infiltrators caught in this part of the fence are turning out to be minors, mentally challenged or disabled having "inadvertently crossed over" to India, according to the Border Security Force (BSF).

"I have seen a number of such cases in Ferozepur, Hussainiwala, Jalalabad and Abohar areas. A child named Nasir once crossed the border because he wanted to meet actor Shah Rukh Khan. At times, even mentally unstable people cross the fence," said Deputy Inspector General (BSF) Vimal Satyarthi.

During the monthly conference with Pak Rangers, the DIG said, they had strongly put forward their contention, saying this practice needed to be checked.

"The kids need to be told that the other side of the border is India and I am surprised how they don't know this. This gives enough indications that something is fishy behind such entries," he added.

According to the BSF officer, children less than 10 years old from Pakistan are commonly caught in this part of the border and later Pak Rangers come out with the plea they "inadvertently" crossed over and should be sent back.

He said: "We had sent back two mentally ill persons who had entered from Jalalabad sector and also a Pak Ranger, Ali Abbas, who had crossed the border on the first day of his job in November."

Satyarthi said while a large number of infiltrations had taken place last year, the number came down this year after "repeated protests by us" and a stricter vigil on the border.