NEW DELHI – Indian Army’s Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan, who had willfully crossed the Line of Control (LOC) into Pakistan last year, has been court martialed in India.
According to Hindustan Times, the Army court has awarded Chavan nearly three months in jail but the period of punishment is yet to be determined by authorities concerned.
Earlier, the sepoy had pleaded guilty to the allegation of abandoning the post prior to being arrested by the Pakistan Army.
Chavan’s grandmother had died after she learnt about the arrest of his grandson by the Pakistani troops.
Following the arrest, India had accused Pakistan of capturing its soldier but a clarification by the Pakistan Army rubbished the claims.
In January, Pakistan Army had handed over Sepoy Chandu Babulal Chavan to Indian authorities at Wagah Border on humanitarian grounds.
According to ISPR, Chavan, who was deputed at Indian Occupied Kashmir, deserted his post at LOC due to his grievances of maltreatment by his commanders. He willfully crossed the LOC on September 29, 2016 and surrendered himself to the Pakistani Army.
As a gesture of goodwill and in continuation of efforts to maintain peace and tranquility along LOC and Working Boundry, Sepoy Chavan, who did not want to go back, had been convinced to return to his own country.
