Jammu, August 7
Pakistan Rangers today confirmed the custody of a BSF constable, who was swept away in the Chenab to Pakistan yesterday.

A top BSF officer stated that Pakistan Rangers had confirmed the constable’s repatriation around 3.30 pm tomorrow.

"The place (on international border) from where the jawan will be repatriated has not been decided, but the Rangers have confirmed that he would be returned around 3.30pm tomorrow. The place will be intimated to us in the morning. It is likely that they (Rangers) would prefer octroi post in the Suchetgarh area of the RS Pura sector," he said.

Constable Satya Sheel Yadav of the 33rd Battalion of the BSF was swept away to Pakistan around 11.30 am on Wednesday after the motorboat on which he was on patrol duty along with three others was hit by a technical snag in the Pallanwala sector of Akhnoor belt in Jammu district.

The jawan is currently being held at Pakistan Army's Markiwalla camp.

"The BSF jawan is safe and Pakistan Rangers have confirmed to us that he is in their custody. However, in such cases where individual get into a foreign country by accident, protocol of repatriation has to be followed and it takes some time," said Rakesh Kumar Sharma, Inspector-General, BSF Jammu Frontier.

Sharma informed that the BSF had taken up the matter with Pakistan at the appropriate levels.

"We had sent a request for flag meeting yesterday and we had sent a letter to them today as well,” said the IG.

Sharma, who assumed the charge of 198-km long international border on August 5, further said, "It was an accidental crossing. The jawan was performing his duty when the mishap occurred. Therefore, we anticipate a positive response.”