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India gives consular access to six Pakistani Hindu boys

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI AUG. 29. Pakistan High Commission officials were given consular access to verify the antecedents of six Hindu boys, all below 18, who had strayed into Indian territory in Gujarat from Mithi district in the Pakistani province of Sindh.

This access comes in the wake of the release of 13-year-old Munir earlier this month and the consequent focus on the fate of children who stray across the international border and the Line of Control between India and Pakistan.

Sources in the Pakistani High Commission confirmed that access had been given to these six boys at the Gujarat Bhavan today. "We have referred their cases to Pakistan, but, by and large, the impression is that these boys are from Pakistan," they maintained.

After confirming their nationality, the boys were likely to be handed over to Pakistani authorities at the Wagah border, the External Affairs Ministry spokesman said this evening.

Separately, consular access is likely to be granted by India next week to six other Pakistani boys, who are languishing in the Faridkot (Punjab) juvenile home and whose plight was highlighted by the NDTV 24X7in a report yesterday.

The boys to whom consular access was granted today are: Ramji Kali, Premji Lauji Koli, Hira Prabha Koli, Karshan Bhemaji Koli, Sonu alias Moru Chatra Koli and Sava alias Chhagan Bachro Koli. All of them are from Nagarparkar, Mithi district, Sindh province in Pakistan.

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