SIALKOT, Sept 21: A local court on Friday acquitted 18 people, including women and children, of two Bengali families who were accused of illegally entering Pakistan by crossing the working boundary with India.

Magistrate Javaid Iqbal Warraich ruled that the accused had proved that they were citizens of Pakistan residing in Karachi since long. Thus, the court observed, they had committed no offence and deserved acquittal in the case Kotli Said Mir police registered against them a few days ago.

The Pakistani Border Security Forces had arrested the 18 people while picnicking at River Chenab near Marala and later handed them over to the police alleging they were citizens of Bangladesh and entered Pakistan illegally.