KARACHI: The investigations by the Indian authorities into the circumstances in which soldier Chandu Chavan crossed over the Line of Control (LoC) have confirmed that he ‘wilfully’ crossed the LoC after an altercation with his superiors.
A report by Hindustan Times on Thursday revealed that preliminary investigations into the matter contradicted Indian stance that Chandu Chavan had ‘inadvertently’ strayed across the LoC.
Pakistan Army on 21st January returned him to the India authorities at the Wahga border on humanitarian grounds. The ISPR had stated he had deserted his post due to 'grievances of maltreatment' against his superiors, a claim which India earlier had denied.
The sepoy crossed over into Pakistan and surrendered to the Pakistan Army on September 29, 2016, the day the Indian army claimed it had conducted surgical strikes against militants following the attack in Uri that killed 19 soldiers.
Highly placed officials told the newspaper, “Chavan had an argument with his superiors over distribution of duties after which he abandoned his post.”