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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India has ample food stocks, says Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
Hubballi (Karnataka), May 12 (PTI): Allaying fears of shortage of essential commodities, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday said the country has ample food stocks and warned against hoarding, black marketing and creating artificial shortages.
He also urged people not to panic or rush to the markets to purchase food grains, due to rumours in the wake of the military conflict between India and Pakistan.
"We have an abundant quantity of food grains. We have a buffer stock sufficient for a minimum of 1 to 1.5 years. We have given instructions to states from our department to take strict action against hoarding and black marketing. We have given clear warning against creating artificial scarcity," the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said there are enough quantities of pulses and cooking oil, and there is no need for people to create rush for any reason, as there is a big system in place.
"Our production of rice, wheat and other food grains is huge, so there is no need for anyone to worry. If anyone indulges in practices like black marketing, the state governments should take strict action," he added.
Noting that currently a "ceasefire" is in place between India and Pakistan, the union minister said, it has been made clear that India will treat any future act of terror on its soil as an "act of war" and to respond accordingly.
"We will not consider terrorism as an isolated activity and it will be considered as an act of war," he added.
Pointing out that the central government has called all party meetings at every level following the Pahalgam terror attack and information has been shared with opposition parties from time to time, Joshi said the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry will be able to say on the demand for a special parliament session and other things.
He further stated that during the operation in the last three to four days, the Indian armed forces have given a major blow to terrorism infrastructure, terrorists, terror hideouts and training camps, and their supporters.
Regarding the opposition's criticism over the USA's mediation for the ceasefire announcement, the union minister said the Government of India had already made a statement in this regard, and has stated clearly that the understanding was following a call from the Pakistan's Director General Military Operation (DGMO) to India's DGMO, and there were certain preconditions.
"No senior ministers in the central government have made any political statement in contact with the current situation. I appeal to the opposition, the country should remain united," he added.
