Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday asserted that efforts are on to bring back the stranded Indian jawan from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and said the Centre has activated the procedure which takes place at the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) level.
“He had crossed over which happens in border areas. There is a well-established mechanism through DGMO (Director General of Military Operations) which has been activated,” Mr. Parrikar said in Pune.
“Since the situation is tense right now, it will take some days to bring the soldier back,” the Minister said.
“The DGMO has informed (his) Pakistan counterparts by hotline and the standard mechanism to secure the soldier’s release has been activated,” said the Defence Minister, responding to questions about the efforts being undertaken by the Central government to bring home Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan, the youthful 22-year-old soldier of the 37 Rashtriya Rifles trapped in hostile territory.
Sepoy Chavan was posted in Mendhar district of Jammu and Kashmir near the LoC with the Rashtriya Rifles when he went missing on Thursday morning, soon after the strikes were successfully conducted.
When asked about the arrival of the first batch of French fighter aircraft Rafale, Parrikar said, “As per the deal the time is 36 months. But they may arrive a slightly earlier than that. We have requested them for early delivery.”
“Since the situation is tense right now, it will take some days to bring the soldier back,” the minister said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said all attempts were being to free the soldier from Pakistani captivity.
Still reeling under the shock, another tragedy struck Babulal Chavan’s family as his grandmother died of a heart attack after getting news of him being captured by Pakistan.
Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre visited the family and met Babulal Chavan’s brother Bhushan Chavan who is also a soldier with the Maratha Light Infantry.
“No one can trust them (Pakistan). We are worried they will torture him, and tell him lies that the army doesn’t care about him. That could drive him to take his own life,” Bhushan Chavan said.
