Srinagar, July 4: More than a month after security forces apprehended a resident of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) for allegedly crossing the Line of Control (LoC) into the Uri sector of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he was repatriated to Pakistan on Saturday, officials said.
The individual, identified as Zeeshan Mir, a resident of Painkadi village in Muzaffarabad, was apprehended by the Army on May 31 after he allegedly crossed the LoC into the Uri sector.
In a statement, the Army said Mir was repatriated at 12:24 pm (IST) on Saturday and was formally handed over to Pakistan Army officials at the Kaman Post crossing.
“During his stay in India, Zeeshan was treated with dignity, compassion and due care, reflecting the Indian Army’s steadfast commitment to humanitarian values and professional conduct,” the statement said.
During preliminary questioning, Mir reportedly told security agencies that he had crossed into Kashmir to meet his girlfriend, Iram Bano, a resident of the Tillawari area of Uri. He is said to have claimed that the two had developed a relationship through the social media platform Snapchat.
Officials said both Mir and Bano were questioned by security agencies to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the cross-border entry and to rule out any security concerns.
Following his apprehension, a case was registered at Police Station Uri. Mir was taken into custody, and investigations were initiated to determine the circumstances under which he crossed the LoC and to examine any possible links or motives behind the incident.
Incidents involving individuals crossing the LoC to meet loved ones have surfaced in the past also, though such cases remain rare given the heavily guarded nature of the border.
