JAISALMER: Amid heightened security along the India-Pakistan international border ahead of Independence Day, alert Border Security Force (BSF) personnel detained a 60-year-old Pakistani national after he allegedly crossed into Indian territory on Saturday afternoon.The BSF patrol party spotted the man near the KKT Border Out Post (BOP) in the Bijrad area of Barmer, close to the border fencing. The personnel warned him to stop and subsequently detained him on the spot.During preliminary questioning, the man identified himself as Baku Khan (60), son of Ismail Khan and a resident of Jahirilon village in Mithi district of Pakistan.After the initial questioning, the BSF handed him over to Bijrad police late Saturday evening.According to Bijrad SHO Ajit Singh, the Pakistani national was questioned by the police under the supervision of DSP Jetharam.During preliminary interrogation, Baku Khan claimed that he had inadvertently crossed into Indian territory while grazing goats and said he was unaware of the location of the international boundary. No suspicious material was recovered from his possession, police said.The SHO said that a joint interrogation by various security agencies will be conducted on Monday to ascertain the circumstances under which Baku Khan entered India and determine the purpose behind his crossing.The detention comes at a time when the BSF is conducting ‘Operation Alert’ along the entire western international border ahead of Independence Day. Under the exercise, BSF personnel have intensified patrolling, surveillance and security checks along sensitive border areas.According to BSF officials, the Pakistani national was spotted by a patrol party near the KKT BOP after he crossed the international boundary and entered Indian territory. The troops immediately moved in and detained him before handing him over to the local police for further investigation.
