Yogesh Sagotra
Jammu, Aug 31: Police Tuesday detained an Afghan national at a COVID testing centre established at Jammu and Kashmir’s Lakhanpur entry point in Kathua district.
The police, however, said that they have found nothing adverse against the boy and they will release him soon after completing the legal formalities.
A police official said that a 17-year-old boy was detained by police in Lakhanpur near J&K-Punjab border, where restriction on movement of any-person was imposed under COVID guidelines and for testing.
Police sources said that one Afghan national, aged about 17, was detained near COVID-19 testing point Lakhanpur after police observed some suspicious movement. “His identity was revealed from his Passport and Visa. He was taken to Lakhanpur Police Station for further enquiry,” the sources said.
“Yes, a person from Afghanistan has been detained,” a senior police officer confirmed, adding that the “The Afghan national has valid travel documents, which shows that he is a teenager. This is why we are not disclosing his identity,” he said adding, “We are verifying the matter to find out how he entered into J&K and purpose etc. It would be premature to draw any conclusion as he is being quizzed.”
The detention of an Afghan national comes at a time when the Taliban has taken over the full control of the country hours after US forces completed withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan. Security forces in Kashmir have already been on a high alert to ensure there is no infiltration of Taliban militants into J&K territory. Meanwhile, a police official said that nothing adverse has been found and the boy along with his brother had travelled to Delhi on a valid passport and travel documents. “The boy will be released soon,” the official said.
