RAHIM YAR KHAN: The Cholistan Rangers personnel arrested a Bangladeshi man in the Cholistan desert area on Saturday.

According to the first information report (FIR) filed with Manthar police in Sadiqabad, Hawaldar GD Maqsood, Lance Naik Rustam Khan, and sepoys Ahmed Nawaz, and Ammar Yasir of Cholistan Rangers were patrolling the Koraywala post area near Dadi Darbar.

While on patrol, they spotted a 39/49-year-old man and conducted a check. The man identified himself as Sirajuddola from Chittagong, Bangladesh, during the investigation. A search of his belongings yielded various items, including socks, scarf, pant, valet, lighter, comb, nail cutter, pencil, shoes, coat, handbag, flags, knife, soap, cap, shirt, diary, toothbrush, scissors, Bangla currency 50 Takka, INR5,150, and two expired passports.

During the interrogation, Siraj could not provide a satisfactory explanation for his presence in the area. It was concluded that Siraj had illegally crossed the Pakistan border without a valid reason, violating Section 3/4 of the Pakistan Entry Act 1952 and Section 14 of the Foreigner Act 1946. Siraj was handed over to the police, and after the necessary procedures, a copy of the FIR was provided to the complainant.

In October last, Cholistan Rangers also rescued a 17-year-old Indian youth trapped in the fence at the Pakistan-India border near Kakiwala, 150 kilometres from Rahim Yar Khan.

The youth, identified as Bapan and a resident of Kuldhara, an Indian village eight kilometres from the border, had been stuck in the border fence for 70 hours and was suffering from extreme thirst. Cholistan Rangers saved the youth’s life after rescuing him and immediately providing medical treatment at a nearby health facility.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2024