LAHORE: Pakistan on Tuesday handed over to India the body of a Border Security Force (BSF) sub-inspector who had drowned in a river along the International Border in Jammu last week, officials said.
“Indian BSF soldier Sub-Inspector Paritosh Mondal had drowned while crossing Aik Nullah along Working Boundary inside Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and his body was reported to have swept towards Pakistan side,” said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The security force had requested Pakistan Rangers to search the body. “Pakistan Rangers Punjab undertook a search operation, recovered the body and handed over to Indian BSF today as per military procedure,” the military’s media wing added.
Mandal, 54, went missing in the Aik Nallah in Arnia sector on September 28 when he and two other troopers were patrolling along the India-Pakistan International Border. Villagers joined hands with the BSF and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to trace him but to no avail, they said.
As the Aik Nallah flows into Pakistan, the BSF informed Pakistan Rangers about it. On Tuesday, Pakistan informed the BSF that Mandal’s body has been recovered.
The BSF sub-inspector was a native of West Bengal’s Nadia district.
A spokesperson said the IG of BSF Jammu conveyed his deep regrets for the unfortunate loss of life of the brave and dedicated soldier. The BSF, Jammu, also thanked the SDRF, villagers and Pakistan Rangers for their efforts.