BSF jawan detained by Pak: Pregnant wife, son arrive at Chandigarh airport from Hooghly
Chandigarh, Apr 28 (PTI): The wife of BSF jawan Purnam Sahu, who was detained by Pakistan Rangers after inadvertently crossing the international border, on Monday arrived at the Chandigarh airport from West Bengal's Hooghly.
Sahu's wife Rajani, who is pregnant, and their son arrived at the airport along with some relatives.
Rajani would be travelling to Punjab's Ferozepur to gather information from senior BSF officials about efforts to bring back her husband.
The jawan, Constable Sahu, was apprehended by the Pakistan Rangers from a farming field along the Ferozepur district of Punjab on April 23.
According to BSF officials, the incident occurred when Sahu, who was escorting a group of farmers near the border, stepped away to rest under a tree and unknowingly slipped into Pakistani territory.
He was posted with the 182nd battalion of the Border Security Force at the Ferozepur border.
The Indian and Pakistani border forces held a flag meeting to negotiate Sahu's release, officials said, but the family has not received any further updates.
The incident came at a time when relations between the two countries have hit a low in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack which claimed 26 lives.
Rajani left her home in Hooghly district's Rishra in West Bengal for Punjab.
Earlier, she said if her queries with BSF camp officials remain unsatisfactory, she would travel from Ferozepur to Delhi to seek a meeting with Union Home Ministry and other government officials.
"I cannot tell you how tense I am as BSF officials are only asking me not to worry. There is no clarity. I am very worried so I planned the visit amid my condition," Rajani had said.
Sahu hails from Rishra in Hooghly district of West Bengal.
Rajani had initially planned to board the Amritsar Mail on Sunday evening, which travels to Ferozepur from Howrah via Pathankot but could not get a confirmed ticket.
The parents of Sahu, who hails from the Harisabha area of Rishra in West Bengal's Hooghly district, said they would appeal to the central government to do everything necessary to ensure their son's return.
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Clinical India crush Sri Lanka by 97 runs to win Women's Tri-Nation tournament
Colombo, May 11 (PTI): India displayed absolute dominance to crush Sri Lanka by 97 runs and earn a well-deserved title triumph in the Women's Tri-Nation ODI series after vice-captain Smriti Mandhana's sublime century and the bowlers' collective effort in the title clash here on Sunday.
After Mandhana rose to the occasion to power India to a commanding 342 for seven, the bowlers completed the task by bundling out Sri Lanka for 245, with Sneh Rana (4/38) and Amanjot Kaur (3/54) doing the bulk of the damage.
Skipper Chamari Athapaththu (51 off 66 balls) and Nilakshika Silva (48 off 58) were the chief contributors for the hosts.
Earlier, battling cramps in humid conditions, elegant left-hander Mandhana, who had returned to form with a fifty in India's last match against South Africa, struck a majestic 116 off 101 balls to lay the foundation for India's imposing total after skipper Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bat.
Her knock was laced with 15 fours and two sixes, including four successive boundaries off Athapaththu to bring up her 11th ODI hundred in style.
After the early dismissal of Pratika Rawal for 30, Mandhana shifted gears smoothly.
The stylish Mandhana made Sri Lanka pay for dropping her on 21 as was involved in two big partnerships - 70 for the first wicket with Pratika and 120 for the second with Harleen Deol.
She brought up her 32nd ODI fifty with a stylish sweep behind square.
The left-hander added 120 runs in 106 balls with Harleen (47 off 56; 4x4) for the second wicket to steady the innings before falling while attempting a lofted cover drive.
But her dismissal set the stage for a strong finish as Jemimah Rodrigues, coming off a career-best 123 against South Africa, smashed a quick-fire 44 off 29 balls (4x4), while Harmanpreet contributed a brisk 41 off 30 (4x4, 1x6) as India piled on 90 runs in the last 10 overs.
There was a brief phase where India looked to have lost steam in the final overs, but cameos from Deepti Sharma (20 not out off 14) and Amanjot Kaur (18 off 12) helped them surge past 340.
For Sri Lanka, Sugandika Kumari was the pick of their bowlers with 2/59, while Dewmi Vihanga (2/69) and Malki Madara (2/74) also picked two wickets each.
Set a formidable target, the home team needed a strong start, but instead, they lost Hasini Perera to Amanjot in only the third ball of the Sri Lankan innings.
Attempting to play through mid-off, Perera ended up playing down the wrong line as the ball crashed onto the off-stump.
Sri Lanka were one down without a run on the board and an onerous task awaited the duo of captain Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne (36 off 41 balls).
They seemed to be succeeding, as Athapaththu and Vishmi put Sri Lanka's chase back on track after the early blow. The pair negated the difficult phase well before opening up to hit boundaries.
However, Deepti's introduction put the brakes on Lankan scoring as the senior off-spinner bowled three economical overs on the trot before Amanjot gave India their second breakthrough by bowling Vishmi around her legs after the batter had shuffled a long way across.
India could have had another wicket but wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, standing up to debutant pacer Kranti Goud, could not hold to an edge from Athapaththu when she was on 25.
Kranti then missed a catch off her own bowling after Nilakshi's leading edge off a slower delivery.
However, soon after getting to her fifty, Athapaththu was bowled by Rana, who dropped the batter off her own bowling in her previous over.
With the required run rate mounting, the match was as good as over after Nilakshika's dismissal to Rana.
