Sunita Jamgade, a resident of Nagpur who had crossed into Pakistan through the Line of Control (LoC) earlier this month, was officially handed over to Indian authorities on Saturday. According to police officials, she was captured by Pakistani forces near Hunderman village in Kargil and returned through a formal handover involving the Pakistan Rangers and the Border Security Force (BSF).
Jamgade, 43, was reported missing on May 14 after she left her village near the LoC, allegedly leaving behind her 12-year-old son. Authorities later confirmed that she had been in contact with Pakistani nationals prior to her disappearance. Officials suspect she may have crossed the border voluntarily, though investigations are still underway to determine whether she was involved in any unlawful activity.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone V), Niketan Kadam, confirmed that a police team had been dispatched to Amritsar to escort her back to Nagpur. He stated that a detailed interrogation would follow her return to assess her mental condition and to explore any potential legal implications, including whether any aspect of her actions could be linked to espionage.
Dr S D Singh Jamwal, Director General of Police for Ladakh, had earlier revealed that Jamgade had been showing signs of emotional distress and confusion in the weeks leading to her disappearance. Her family also disclosed that she was mentally ill and undergoing psychiatric treatment in Nagpur. She previously worked as a nurse and was more recently working as a door-to-door garment seller.
A zero FIR was registered by the Amritsar Police, which is expected to be transferred to Kapil Nagar police station in Nagpur, her permanent address. Kadam explained that such cross-border cases are usually resolved through diplomatic and security agency coordination, including flag meetings between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers.
Meanwhile, her son, who had been placed in the care of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) during her absence, will also be reunited with her in Nagpur.
The incident has once again highlighted the sensitive nature of border security and the psychological vulnerabilities of civilians living in conflict-adjacent regions.
