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SRINAGAR

India on Friday said that it believed its fifty four (54) missing defence personnel of 1965 and 1971 wars are in the custody in Pakistan.

According to a PIB statement, “the Government has repeatedly been taking up the matter with the Pakistan Government for the release of the missing defence personnel believed to be in Pakistan’s custody. However, Pakistan does not acknowledge the presence of any such personnel in its custody. A delegation of 14 relatives of missing defence personnel also visited 10 Jails in Pakistan during 1-14 June, 2007. The delegation, however, could not conclusively confirm the physical presence of any missing defence personnel.”

“The families of these missing defence personnel were given liberalized pensionary / rehabilitation benefits as per extant rules. Subsequently, payment of service and retirement benefits have been made to the next of kin of the 38 (including one from Border Security Force) out of 54 missing defence personnel believed to be in the custody in Pakistan, as if they had retired on superannuation, in compliance of judgement dated 23.12.2011 passed by Hon’ble High Court of Gujarat. In case of 13 missing defence personnel, dues have been deposited in the High Court of Gujarat due to non availability of Next of Kin / legal heirs or non-establishment of legal heirship of the claimant. Details of 03 missing defence personnel are not known and the Hon’ble High Court of Gujarat has been apprised in this regard,” the statement said.

The information was given by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Charanjeet Singh Rori And K Ashok Kumar in Lok Sabha today.

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