M A I N   N E W S

Children’s Day gift for Pakistani kids
Tribune News Service

Wagah, November 14
Seven Pakistani Hindu boys who had wandered into the Indian territory, were repatriated as a goodwill gesture to mark Children’s Day.

The boys waved the mediapersons and officials of various departments at the Wagah joint checkpost. However, they had only one grouse that the Muslim children lodged with them in the juvenile jails had not been released. While the Government of Pakistan had confirmed the nationality of Pakistani Hindus, it failed to do so in the case of Muslim boys.

Of the seven boys who crossed over to Pakistan, six were released from Bhuj jail in Gujarat while Dinesh Kumar was released from the juvenile jail of Faridkot. However, Dinesh said he would visit the families of all Muslim boys who could not be released from the Faridkot jail. The six Pakistani Hindu boys released from the Bhuj jail belong to Sindh province in Pakistan. They are Ramji, Prem, Heera, Krishan, Monu and Shiva.

Talking to the media, Ramji said he was rearing sheep along with father and brother when he wandered into the Indian territory. Similar was the case of other boys. The youngest, Krishan (13), said on June 25 he crossed the Indian border inadvertently.

However, Dinesh had a different story to narrate. He said he deliberately crossed over into India with a motive to meet his paternal uncle Harish Kumar in Ahmedabad as he had failed in the matriculation examination. He said he took this extreme step as he apprehended that this parents would beat him for having failed in exam.

The Pakistani children said their government should reciprocate the gesture by releasing Indian prisoners there.

Giving peace a chance: children

Actresses and social workers Nandita Das and Nafisa Ali with a group of slum children at a function to celebrate ‘Children's Day’ in Yamuna Pusta area of New Delhi on Friday. — PTI photo

New Delhi, November 14
From the way to drape a Sri Lankan saree to a lyrical Kazakhastan dance to the swinging African beats and finally on to the tickling palates from across the world.

Actress Nandita Das and social activist Nafisa Ali were present at the “Children’s Week” celebrations organised by the Apollo Hospital. — UNI