09 November 2004	Tuesday	25 Ramazan 1425

NEW DELHI, Nov 8: Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Sunday inadvertently stepped into Pakistani territory during a visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the Deccan Chronicle newspaper reported on Monday.

It said Mr Patil breached what India calls the International Border and Pakistan describes as a working boundary around noon close to border Pillar 918 near Jammu's RS Pura sector. This is how it happened.

Mr Patil was visiting a paramilitary post of the Border Security Forces (BSF) which sits right on the old Jammu-Sialkot road. A milestone says Sialkot: 11 km, Lahore: 141 km. Personnel of the United Nations Military Observers Group posted on both sides of the India-Pakistan border sometimes pass through the "octroi post". Otherwise the gate remains shut.

Mr Patil's attention was drawn to a curiosity called border Pillar 918. "You can barely see that pillar, for over the years the trunk of a large peepal tree has grown around it. While taking a look at it, the minister walked around the trunk - and technically right into Pakistani territory," The Chronicle said.

Earlier Mr Patil walked up to the point, photographers accompanying him scrambled ahead. They went round border Pillar 919 and planted themselves on the other side of the barrier.