Pakistan returns Indian soldier Chandu Babulal Chavan as goodwill gesture

Mangalore Today News Network

Jan 21, 2017: In what it calls a goodwill gesture, Pakistan Army has returned Indian soldier Chandu Babulal Chavan to India.

 

The Indian soldier had inadvertently crossed the Line of Control on September 29 last year.

Pakistan Army, however, claimed that he deserted to that country following maltreatment of the commanders. It also claimed that Chandu was captured on the day of the surgical strikes by India.

"Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan, an Indian Army soldier, deserted his post at LoC due to his grievances of maltreatment against his commanders. He willfully crossed LoC on 29 September, 2016 and surrendered himself to Pakistan Army," the ISPR press statement reads.

ISPR further said, "As a gesture of goodwill and in continuation of our efforts to maintain peace and tranquility along the LoC and WB, Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan has been convinced to return to his own country."

Chandu was handed over to Indian authorities at Wagha Border on ’humanitarian grounds’.

Earlier, MoS Defence, Subhash Bhamre had expressed hope on Thursday that Chandu Chavan would return home safely.

"The very next day after the surgical strikes, Chandu had inadvertently crossed the LoC to Pakistani side. The government, the DGMO and MEA are in contact with Pakistan since then through proper channel. Initial response from Pakistan was not positive but the latest response inspires hope," Bhamre had said.

Chandu is a soldier from 37 Rashtriya Rifles and hails from Maharashtra’s Dhule, which is incidentally the Lok Sabha constituency of Bhamre.