A few weeks after a young couple from Pakistan crossed the International Border into India because their families did not approve of their relationship, another pair from Sindh has now been caught along the Gujarat border. According to the police, this second “couple” was intercepted by the Border Security Force (BSF) in the early hours of Monday, 24th October.
BSF personnel spotted the two between border pillars 523 and 524 around 2:50 am on the Indian side. They were later handed over to the Balasar police station in Kutch (East) around 4 am on Tuesday (25th October). The duo introduced themselves as 24-year-old Popatkumar Nathu Bhil and 20-year-old Gauri Gulab Bhil, but they were unable to show any valid identity documents.
According to the media reports, the two were carrying only 100 Pakistani Rupees when they were caught. The officer further said that both claimed to be in a relationship, but their families had strongly opposed it, which is why they decided to flee Pakistan.
Police said the two told them they are from a village in the Tharparkar district of Pakistan’s Sindh province, located in the Mirpur Khas Division. While the BSF has not issued any official statement so far, the police confirmed that both individuals would now be taken to the Joint Interrogation Centre in Bhuj. Security agencies will question them to verify their backgrounds and intentions.
Kutch (East) Superintendent of Police Sagar Bagmar could not be reached for a comment.
This incident comes just weeks after a similar case. On 8th October, another Pakistani couple, Toto alias Tara Ranmal Chudi and Meena alias Puja Karsan Chudi, were detained by the police in Ratanpar village, Kutch. They told the police that they lived close to each other near a temple in Islamkot, Pakistan, and had run away on 4th October because their families did not accept their relationship.