Security forces in Rajasthan intercepted a young man on Saturday who was attempting to illegally cross the international border into Pakistan. The incident occurred in the sensitive Khajuwala sector of Bikaner district, raising immediate security concerns.
Apprehension Near the Border
The 27-year-old man was detained just a few kilometres short of the actual border fence. He was reportedly asking local villagers for directions on a safe route to slip across into Pakistani territory. Acting on this suspicious activity, security agencies swiftly moved in and took him into custody for questioning.
Sub-Inspector Harpal Singh of the Khajuwala police station identified the individual as Prashant Vedam, an engineering graduate hailing from Vizag (Visakhapatnam). Preliminary interrogation revealed a startling personal motive behind his risky endeavour.
A Motive Rooted in a Past Illegal Journey
During questioning, Vedam narrated an unusual story to the police. He stated that his objective was to reach Rawalpindi in Pakistan. His purpose was to meet a woman he had first encountered during a previous illegal border crossing back in 2017.
Vedam claimed that after his 2017 arrest by the Pakistani Rangers, both he and the woman were held in adjacent cells. This brief contact left a lasting impression on him. Following his eventual release and repatriation to India in 2021, he was allegedly determined to go back and meet her again, leading to this latest attempt.
"We spoke to his brother, who informed us that the family had filed a missing persons report after Vedam disappeared," stated Sub-Inspector Singh. The police have noted that his account suggests possible psychological issues, though this has not been medically confirmed at this stage.
Security Probe and Family Involvement
Police officials clarified that Vedam has not been formally arrested but is being held for detailed investigation. He will be questioned by the multi-agency Joint Interrogation Committee (JIC) to definitively ascertain his motives and the full circumstances.
"Different agencies are questioning him, and his family is expected to reach Bikaner Monday," an official involved in the case said. The security establishment is treating the matter with heightened caution. This is due to the history of the Sriganganagar–Bikaner belt, which has reported cases of espionage in the past.
Investigators are keen to unravel the details of his 2017 crossing. A key line of inquiry is understanding how he managed to cross the border illegally the first time and whether he maintains contacts on the other side. The priority is to rule out any espionage links or larger security threats.
The detention underscores the persistent challenges of border security and the unusual human stories that sometimes unfold along these heavily guarded frontiers.
