PoK man caught in Uri, cops suspect affair

SRINAGAR: An intruder from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was caught crossing the LoC in north Kashmir’s Uri sector, the Army said Sunday as unconfirmed reports and a social media video suggested the sneak-in was driven by a love affair with a local woman.

Sources said the man was identified as Zeeshan Ahmad Mir, 22, a resident of Painkadi village in PoK’s Muzaffarabad district. He was caught late Saturday as he entered through the Haji Peer range in Uri’s Silikote area. Local authorities later detained Iram Bano, suspected to be the lady Mir wanted to meet. She is from Tilawari village near the LoC.

Soon after, a video went viral on social media purportedly showing the couple identifying themselves while responding to questions from an unseen person, believed to be a security official.

A police officer requesting anonymity confirmed it was a case of love, with the two families on two sides of the border related and the couple communicating with each other through social media. Mir’s family was originally from Uri but migrated to PoK decades ago, the officer added.

According to the Army, the troops maintained restraint while challenging Mir and apprehended him “surgically”. “Intruder handed over to J&K Police for further legal proceedings,” the Army said in a statement.