Boy returns home after serving jail term in India
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HYDERABAD: A 16-year-old boy caught by the Indian Army in 2011, charged with ‘spying’ and convicted by a court for illegally crossing the border returned to his home in Nagarparkar on Tuesday.
Samero Kohli, son of Waalji Kohli, had gone missing in June 2011 when he was 11. It was later learnt that he had gone astray and had been captured by the Indian Border Security Force in the Rann of Kutch.
Also read: Indian BSF soldier says he had 'comfortable' stay in Pakistan
He was locked up at a police station in Bhuj and later presented before a court which exonerated him of the spying charge but jailed him for four years for illegally crossing the border.
The Indian authorities handed over the boy to the Rangers personnel at Wagah border a couple of days back after he had served his jail term.
Edhi volunteers and activists of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and some other NGOs brought him back to Nagarparkar.
Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2015
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Comments (33) Closed
Jun 03, 2015 07:06am
That's sad but you have to understand that from previous experience, cross border infiltration can't be taken lightly by the Indian security forces
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Jun 03, 2015 07:17am
What a shame on so called democracy... 11 years old child was jailed and kept with hard core criminal. I hope he was not abused by jail mates. The hate Indians nurturing for Pakistanis is out of this world and may take few hundred years to clear.
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Jun 03, 2015 07:29am
Indian atrocities continue, unabated.
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Jun 03, 2015 07:36am
This is not good. When will the inhabitants and rulers of both sides realise that we are same, our roots and destiny are the same. It is painful to sentence a boy for crossing over to Indian side, knowing well that he was not spying. Why could not Indian government show magnanimity and send the right message of goodwill to their counterparts and the citizens of both countries? It is an act that will leave a negative affect on Samero. Hope he can forget it like a bad dream and cover up lost 4 years.
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Jun 03, 2015 07:47am
I'm an expat indian and I'm ashamed of this simple minded action of India. Indian policies to contain pakistan has not worked for last 60 years, and they will not work in future. They need to give up these policies and get more involved in pakistan. It would've been a lot better if India and Pakistan can elect representatives to be sent to each other's parliaments, that way Voters/people will be behind the policies.
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Jun 03, 2015 08:04am
India was wrong in holding a 11 year old boy on charges of spying. I think they should have released him long back. I think the boy's family should be compensated and an apology is due from the authorities
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Jun 03, 2015 08:25am
Many POW from both the countries are locked up for years (for some decades) in jails. While the war is over long back, and the rest of the population is enjoying life, they have every right to see their loved ones before they die. That is the least both countries can do to respect their sacrifices for their respective countries.
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Jun 03, 2015 09:09am
Insufficient information create confusion . can you explain the court proceedings and circumstance of jail term. More over there is bad history of infiltration of militant and spy across the border.
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Jun 03, 2015 09:10am
see the tension on the face both jawans, it looks horrible. stop this type of games in larger interest of world
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Jun 03, 2015 09:18am
Why 4 years for 11 year old guy? He was just a kid.
The maximum Jail for murder in india is 3 years for under 16 as we saw in Delhi rape case.
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Jun 03, 2015 09:44am
what is the wrong with India / Pakistan - even children are not spared.
common Indian and Pakistani people need to stand-up and tell these politicians - enough is enough !
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Jun 03, 2015 10:00am
They convicted and sentenced an 11 years old and put him in jail for 5 years.
Where is humanity and common sense and above all compassion for a minor?
Justice denied!
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Jun 03, 2015 10:20am
Very unfortunate for these two countries locked in a conflict that has no meaning except a cause of misery for its citizens. Unbridled nationalism is eating away what precious resources is left of these two countries. Today mans glory should not lie in loving his country but rather the whole of mankind.
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Jun 03, 2015 10:36am
I agree.shame on indian authorities to jail a minor for this small mistake.
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Jun 03, 2015 11:01am
Very well treated by Indian authorities despite he was a spy. Humanity is always expected from India. They even maintain dignity to their enemies.
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Jun 03, 2015 11:26am
@Donald Duncan : 4 YEARS In short we can say arrested and detained by previous dictatorial attitude govt in 2011 and released by current democratic attitude govt in 2015
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Jun 03, 2015 11:43am
@anonymous_indian dude you can't let them go.it's a security process
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Jun 03, 2015 11:45am
Proud of Indian establishment how they have very well treated this teen spy.
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Jun 03, 2015 11:48am
Its an illegal crossing without Visa or documents, so the punishment was feasible.
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Jun 03, 2015 11:59am
@Human Voic3
people who charge a pigeon for spying will have no reluctance when it comes to 11 year boy
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Jun 03, 2015 12:26pm
@Jay Patel Yes the 11 year old was very dignified by the India justice system.
By the were you smart enough to be a spy at 11? or are you still not better than a 11 year old
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Jun 03, 2015 12:50pm
@jason What are you talking about? He was a minor when he stepped into India by mistake.
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Jun 03, 2015 12:52pm
@jason Oh we don't take that lightly at all , trust me. We have zero tolerance , zero trust policy where India is concerned.
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Jun 03, 2015 12:55pm
This kid needs to be brought in a live TV show and asked just how he was treated by the Indians . A complete medical and psychological evaluation is also a must.
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Jun 03, 2015 12:58pm
Hardly surprising. We are talking about a country that arrests and jails pigeons on spying charges..!
I bet this is only one case that has surfaced, there are bound to be several other similar ones yet to come to light.
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Jun 03, 2015 01:00pm
Four years for illegally crossing the border when he was 11? Shameful really! He had just gone astray. Could have just sent the child back after a ticking-off!
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Jun 03, 2015 01:29pm
Indian democracy at work, jailing a minor for just crossing over into India what Hippocratic country which boasts being biggest democracy in the world. Democratic counties don't behave in this manner.
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Jun 03, 2015 02:01pm
Crossing any other country like that, the child would have been simply deported. Poor justice from the court!
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Jun 03, 2015 02:09pm
Can this be made an example and all Pakistani kids be asked to not cross over to India. Bad fate awaits them lest they walk across!
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Jun 03, 2015 02:12pm
@jason So you are justifying putting an 11 year old boy in prison for 5 years just for wandering across the border? Disgusting. In civilised countries, which India definitely is not, they would call this child abduction and abuse at the state level.
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Jun 03, 2015 02:27pm
@kuriouskat agreed .. cases like these need to be highlighted on International forum. If India can make sure a big deal about a "pigeon" then why can't we talk about a Pakistan child on bigger forums ?
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Jun 03, 2015 05:32pm
Well sad news. If it was an Indian boy of 11 treated like that in Pakistan, I would be ashamed. But to each his own.......
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Jun 04, 2015 12:26am
Very very sad. When will both countries behave normally as they should, feel so sad for the kid. Makes one wonder why do we do this to each other, are we not human, can we not feel the pain of others. Politics is one thing, humanism and plain civility, common sense to a fellow harmless kid is quite another.
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