JAMMU: As a goodwill gesture, Indian Army on Wednesday repatriated the minor boy from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir ( PoK ) who was detained on this side of the border in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir .

“Mohammad Abdullah, son of Sarfaraz, a resident of Degwar Tehsil in Haveli district of PoK, who had inadvertently crossed the LoC in Poonch Sector is being repatriated at about 14:30 hours at Chakan Da Bagh crossing point in Poonch district,” Jammu defence spokesman said here on Wednesday evening.

“The minor boy has been presented a set of new clothes and a box of sweets,” the spokesman said, adding, “Indian Army stands by its ethos of being a humane force and maintains sensitivity while dealing with innocent civilians.”

He said the minor boy was apprehended by Indian troops on June 24 in Digwar of Poonch district and handed over to J&K Police on the same day. “Mohammad Abdullah has been released on humanitarian grounds, owing to his young age and to boost the confidence-building measures between India and Pakistan,” he added.

