Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): Airport security at Srinagar International Airport today arrested a soldier along with two local girls from north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, when they were about to board a flight for New Delhi, officials said.
They said that a soldier who is part of Army’s 13RR posted at Ajas in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, identified as Ashok Kumar, son of Rajinder Pal of Baghpath, Uttar Pradesh, was arrested along with two local girls at Srinagar airport when they were about to board a Delhi-bound Spice Jet flight at 4.45 pm.
An Army official said that an inquiry has been ordered to find out how the two girls came in contact with the solider and why they were trying to fly to Delhi.
“The soldier had obtained permission for leave and left the base to join his family,” the official said, adding that it is against the protocol to take any civilian along. “A court of inquiry has been ordered,” he said.
A senior police officer said that airport security found suspicious behaviour among girls after which their identities were checked and when solider was asked why he was taking girls to Delhi, he failed to give any solid reason. “This prompted the airport security to arrest the trio,” he said, adding that families of girls too were in a shock to know that their daughters were travelling to Delhi without their permission. “We are investigating the matter,” the police officer said.
The three are being questioned about the motive behind the trip to Delhi, official said.
The official further added that the arrested soldier will be handed over to the concerned unit where his questioning will take place. “The girls have been handed over to their families, but they will be questioned as to why they were trying to move out of J&K,” he said.
-CHK
