Indian soldier captive in Pakistan: Procedures for bringing him back activated at DGMO level, says Parrikar

Procedures for bringing back the soldier who inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan have been activated at the DGMO level, Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday.  "There's a standard mechanism for that, people who inadvertently cross over are exchanged after enquiry," Parrikar told ANI.

On Thursday, army sources told PTI that "one soldier from 37 RR with weapon has inadvertently crossed over to the other side of the Line of Control. Pakistan has been informed by the DGMO on the hotline."

This news came in the wake of the surgical strikes carried out by India on seven terror launch pads across LoC on the intervening night of September 28 and 29, seen as a reprisal for the Uri attack which left 19 Indian soldiers dead. Two Pakistani soldiers and over 30 terrorists were reportedly killed in the attack.

The government has issued a country-wide alert asking the states to heighten vigil to foil any attempt by Pakistan-based terror groups to carry out attacks amid apprehensions of backlash by terrorists.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday spoke to the family members of the missing soldier, whose grandmother passed away after hearing the news of his capture in Pakistan. The Home Minister telephoned the close family members of Chandu Babulal Chohan, son of Bashan Chohan, who hails from Dhule in Maharashtra.