A soldier, identified as P K Singh, from the Border Security Force in India, was arrested on Wednesday by Pakistan Rangers after crossing the international border by mistake in the Punjab district of Ferozepur. The incident happened near the Jaloke post while the routine duty was going on because farmers were harvesting crops from fields beyond the barbed wire but within Indian territory.

Singh is from Hooghly district, West Bengal, and recently got transferred. He was working as a "Kisan Guard" , the role with a BSF soldier overseeing farmers who worked across the fence in specific hours. He was carrying an AK-47 rifle and a water bottle. Crossing probably took place at close proximity to fencing gate number-208/1 in the Mamdot sector.

According to sources from BSF, there were two troops at the Jaloke post on duty when this incident occurred. The barbed wire fence marked off Indian farmland from the rest of the border under strict time limits but allowed supervised agricultural activity. In fact, in summer, these fields can be accessed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by Indian farmers under BSF supervision.

Pakistan Rangers allegedly released a photo of Singh blindfolded. In response, BSF officials initiated communication with their counterparts across the border and requested a flag meeting on Thursday morning to discuss Singh's release. However, none of the Pakistani officials showed up.

The heavy deployment of BSF was witnessed in the Mamdot block after this incident as a follow-up to its resolution. For guarding Singh's return in safety, BSF officials have been in contact with the Pakistan Rangers.

This was confirmed by Parkash Singh, former sarpanch of the village of Hussainiwala. He said, “Yes, we have heard that one BSF personnel accidentally crossed the border while escorting farmers as a Kisan Guard. I believe BSF is actively pursuing the matter with Pakistan Rangers.”