NEW DELHI: Indian soldier Chandu Babulal Chauhan, who crossed the Line of Control and ended up in the custody of Pakistani forces, was reportedly upset with his immediate superior in Rashtriya Rifles and took the extreme step of in a moment of anger.
Sources in the security establishment clarified that Chauhan, who hails from Maharashtra, was not connected in any way with the
surgical strikes carried out during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. "In fact, no surgical strike happened at the spot from where he crossed over to Azad Kashmir," said an officer.
As per information pieced together by TOI after speaking to multiple sources, the soldier on Thursday afternoon started marching towards the LoC in a huff, still armed with his weapon, after an argument with his immediate superior. Apparently, he was cautioned by his colleagues as he marched towards the LoC but paid no heed to their calls not to stray into Azad Kashmir.
He was later captured by the Pakistani forces deployed across the LoC.
Though the agencies initially suspected him to be a "deserter", facts that have trickled in since suggest otherwise. "He crossed over in broad daylight, and as a soldier, could not have been unaware of the fate that awaited him were he to cross over to the area under Pakistan's occupation," said an officer.
Yet, Chauhan's "moment of anger" may now see him in Pakistan's custody in the days and months to come, given the escalation in hosilities between New Delhi and Islamabad following the
Uri attack and the retaliatory surgical strikes carried out by the Army in Azad Kashmir.
An officer said though India has initiated efforts to secure his release from Pakistan using the diplomatic channels, Islamabad is unlikely to entertain the request. "Just like former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, arrested earlier this year in Pakistan and alleged to be a RAW spy, is unlikely to see freedom anytime soon, Chauhan may be remain in captivity until Indo-Pakistan relations normalise and bonhomie between the two countries sets the stage for his release. This scenario, as of now, seems rather distant," said the official.
Pakistan is yet to give India consular access to Jadhav. Agencies here do not see it happening anytime soon, and fear that a request to consular access to Chauhan may meet the same fate.
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