Indian soldier strays across LoC

NEW DELHI: An Indian soldier strayed across the de-facto border with Pakistan on Thursday, an army source said, amid rising tensions following a “surgical strike” India said it carried out against “terror launch pads”.

One soldier from 37 Rashtriya Rifles with weapons has inadvertently crossed over to the other side of the Line of Control, the source said. “Such inadvertent crossing by soldiers and civilians are not unusual on either side… They are returned through existing mechanisms,” he added.

Pakistan was informed about the incident by the director general of military operations, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh.

Two officials based in Pakistan’s Chhamb’s sector told Reuters the soldier with weapons was captured at 1.30pm local time.