Young couple who fled Pakistan, detained in Kutch, found to be adults in medical test
A Pakistani couple who crossed the border into Kutch after fleeing their families has been booked under the Foreigners Act and Passport Act, with medical tests confirming they are adults. The pair were detained, interrogated and and are currently under investigation.
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat police have registered a case against a young couple from Pakistan who crossed the Line of Control and entered a border village in Kutch district earlier this month. The pair, who initially claimed to be minors, were detained on October 8 after being found near Ratanpar village by personnel from Khadir police station.
The couple had been treated as underage and sent to the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) in Bhuj, where foreign nationals found entering the country illegally are held. However, a medical examination later concluded that both individuals were adults. This assessment, endorsed by the Chief District Medical Officer, prompted the police to file an FIR for violations of the Foreigners Act and the Passport Act.
Gujarat Police registers FIR
The Gujarat police have registered a case against a young couple from Pakistan who crossed the Line of Control and entered a border village in Kutch district earlier this month. The pair, who initially claimed to be minors, were detained on October 8 after being found near Ratanpar village by personnel from Khadir police station.
The couple had been treated as underage and sent to the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) in Bhuj, where foreign nationals found entering the country illegally are held. However, a medical examination later concluded that both individuals were adults. This assessment, endorsed by the Chief District Medical Officer, prompted the police to file an FIR for violations of the Foreigners Act and the Passport Act.
According to the police account, the Ratanpar sarpanch alerted authorities after spotting two unknown individuals hiding near bushes by a lake. Officers later identified them as Toto alias Tara Ranmal Chudi and Meena alias Puja Karsan Chudi, both from the Bhil community.
Investigations revealed that the two lived in the same neighbourhood near a Shiv temple in Lasari village of Islamkot, Pakistan. They had reportedly left their homes together after their families refused to accept their relationship. The couple set off on foot across the desert on October 4 and walked for three days, eventually reaching an unknown settlement where residents offered them food. Only then did they realise they had wandered into Indian territory.
Both determined as adults in latest medical report
Lacking identification documents, they were referred for an age determination test at GK General Hospital. Medical experts assessed the man to be over 20 years old and the woman to be between 18 and 20. The pair were subsequently questioned by multiple agencies on October 15 at the JIC.
The police have stated that further forensic investigations, including brain mapping and polygraph tests, may be required. The couple have been booked under sections 3 and 6 of the Passport Act and section 14 of the Foreigners Act for entering India illegally through border pillar number 1027.
The case remains under investigation.