Army soldier along two Bandipora girls detained

SRINAGAR — Tourist Police on Saturday detained two girls from north Kashmir’s Bandipora district along with an Army soldier when they were walking in suspicious state at Srinagar’s Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport.

Sources said that these two girls and the soldier were scheduled to board a plane bound for New Delhi. Both the girls (names withheld) hail from Ajas area of Bandipora.

Tourist Police detained them and handed them over to Police Station Humhama. Sources said that the girls and the Army soldier are being questioned while the parents have been called as well to the police station.

The Army soldier in question has been identified as Lance Naik Ashok Kumar Paul son of Rajinder Paul, a resident of Uttar Pradesh. He is deputed at Ajas Bandipora with 13 Rashtriya Rifles.

An official said that the motive behind their outside trip is being ascertained.