11 November 2004	Thursday	27 Ramazan 1425

NEW DELHI, Nov 10: India denied on Wednesday that Home Minister Shivraj Patil had strayed into Pakistan territory during a tour of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.

The Deccan Chronicle newspaper reported on Monday that Mr Patil inadvertently breached what India calls the international border and Pakistan describes as a working boundary close to border Pillar 918 near Jammu's RS Pura sector.

An Indian government statement on Wednesday said: "A section of media has reported that the Home Minister, Shri Shivraj V. Patil, inadvertently stepped into the Pakistani territory during his visit to Jammu last Sunday. The minister did not cross the international border and the report is incorrect."