Soldier Chandu Chavan, who had strayed across LOC in 2016 after surgical strike, seeks retirement

Pune: Soldier Chandu Babulal Chavan who had “inadvertently” strayed across the Line of Control (LOC) in September 2016 after the surgical strike and spent nearly four months in captivity in Pakistan before being released, has sought premature discharge from service. [caption id=“attachment_4176357” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Chandu Babulal Chavan (first from left) with his family. Image courtesy: Bhushan Chavan[/caption] Chavan (24), who was admitted to the psychiatry ward in Military Hospital at Kirkee in Pune, has written a letter to his seniors requesting them to relieve him from service, saying he is “disturbed”. The 37 Rashtriya Rifles jawan had gone missing on 29 September, 2016 after he “inadvertently” crossed the LOC, following which the Pakistan Army had taken him into custody. He was handed over to the Indian Army after four months. After returning, Chavan, who hails from Dhule district, faced a sentence for leaving his post without informing his seniors and was later transferred to the Armed Corps Centre in Ahmednagar in Maharashtra. Chavan, who was discharged from the hospital earlier on Monday, told PTI that he was seeking retirement as he is “disturbed after whatever happened to me in the last two years”. “I have written to my seniors and requested them to prematurely discharge me from my duties and give me pension,” he said. Chavan said the Army provided him all possible help and he had no complaints. A Southern Command officer, however, said they have not received any letter from Chavan. “We are yet to know the fact as no letter from him has been received so far,” the officer said.