In an act of cross-border cooperation, Indian Army handed over a body of a boy who had drowned in Minimarg area of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and floated down across the border.
Handing over of mortal remains of the POK boy in Gurez Sector by the Indian authorities to the Pakistani Army with full respect and religious rites. #Humanity, #Kashmir, #IndianArmy @NorthernComd_IA @adgpi @Whiteknight_IA @easterncomd pic.twitter.com/76r4vWj81O
— Chinar Corps – Indian Army (@ChinarcorpsIA) July 11, 2019
According to reports, Indian army troops recovered a body of a seven-year-old boy at Kishanganga River in the north-western part of Jammu and Kashmir in Gurez sector. It turned out that the boy identified as Aabid Ahmad Sheikh was missing since Monday and had accidentally drowned in the river.
The boy’s body was handed over to Pakistan as soon as it was recovered at Dudgai post in Chorwan area of the LoC.
According to reports,
The Army acted after Pakistani authorities flagged the issue of sending back Sheikh’s body. But it was an emotive appeal by the boy’s father and uncles on social media that prompted the Army to act swiftly.
Protocol dictates that in such a case, two parties must establish meeting points. However, in the light of the sensitive matter, the Indian Army offered to hand over the child’s body to Pakistan at Gurez itself.
The Pakistan Army was keen on having an official exchange through the Teetwal crossing in Kupwara district, over 200 km away. But the Indian army worried that the body will decompose and chose to cross the mines covering the Gurez area.
The Indian Army preserved the body in ice blocks carved out from the mountainside and reportedly, the Indian team went through a minefield maze to the Line of Control.
At this gesture, an army officer added,
This time, instead of returning it through official exchange points like Teetwal, we did so in the same area so that the mortal remains do not get decomposed…it was a humanitarian gesture.
Twitter too lauded the humane gesture.
Insaniyat ki behtareen misaal. Pakistan 🇵🇰 should learn from India 🇮🇳 how to honour the dignity of human lives. Still remember pics of Kargil war
— AlQamar Aftab-e-Hind (@AftabHind) July 11, 2019
The neighbour is our enemy but the child who died was an innocent.
— Roshani 🇮🇳 (@IndiaBhakt1) July 11, 2019
Thank you @adgpi for this noble and humane act. Proud of our moral Indian Army. Always.
Jai Hind.🇮🇳
I am never gonna get tired of praising them for sure. Blessed to have such moral Armed Forces.
— Roshani 🇮🇳 (@IndiaBhakt1) July 11, 2019
Great indian army..big salute 🙌🙏
— 🗣*Nature equalation*..Asshu Shah (@AsshuShah) July 11, 2019
Locals of Gurez asked this.
— StArBoArdButPoRt (@st_boa) July 11, 2019
Boy missing since 8. Found by #IndianArmy on 9. Informed @OfficialDGISPR same day. Taking over party came on 11. Would the reaction be same if boy was not from GB but from elsewhere? Demographic and social exploitation of GB well known.