Pakistan hands over 7 Indians who accidently crossed border during 2023 floods
India Today
Seven Indians detained in Pakistan after accidental border crossings during the 2023 floods were handed over to the BSF at Attari, ending months to years of custody across the border.
Pakistan on Saturday repatriated seven Indian civilians who had been detained after inadvertently crossing the border during the 2023 floods, officials said.
The handover took place at the Attari Integrated Check Post in Punjab. Arun Mahal, protocol officer at the Attari border, said the release orders reached both countries earlier in the day.
"Pakistani Rangers handed over the seven prisoners to the BSF. They were then brought to the Customs and Immigration office to complete formalities," Mahal said while speaking to news agency ANI.
Of the seven prisoners, four are from Ferozepur district, one each from Jalandhar and Ludhiana in Punjab, and one from Uttar Pradesh. All had been swept into Pakistani territory while trying to save livestock during heavy flooding along the border in 2023.
One of the released men from Attari in Amritsar said a strong water current pushed them past the border fencing.
"Three of us crossed over because of the flow. We reached a house in Pakistan and asked them to take us to the Indian military, but they handed us to the Pakistani Army. We told them it was accidental, but they didn't listen. They covered our faces and took us away. We were given a one-year punishment. We are grateful to the government for bringing us back," he said.
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