Six Kashmiri teens caught trying to cross LoC

SRINAGAR - Six teenagers trying to cross over to Pakistan to join the guerrilla ranks were caught in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district and handed over to their parents Tuesday.

The teens, all under 18, were re-united by the police with their families in the presence of journalists in Baramulla town.

Deputy Inspector General of Police A.Q. Manhas said the youths belonged to north Kashmir’s Palhalan village.

They were intercepted on specific information provided by police in Kupwara district two days ago. They were trying to breach the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

“All of them are young and we did not keep them in the lock up. They were kept in the police station building instead.

“There must be people responsible for misleading these children, and we will soon identify them.

“We are handing them over to their parents. The decision has been taken on humanitarian grounds with the view to reform them and protect their future,” the officer said.