Jaipur: Indian Air Force Wing Commander Shashank Shekhar, who has been declared a deserter by force, has been caught by the Border Security Force (BSF) near Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan's Anoopgarh while allegedly trying to cross the border. Shekhar, who hails from Ambala City, had hidden some documents and his passport in his shoes which have been recovered.
Security agencies are now questioning Shekhar. He was posted at Ambala Air Force station in neighbouring Haryana from where he remained absent from duty without leave from October 24, 2011. He was declared a deserter in December 21, 2011.
The officer was apprehended from Sadanand Shantanand Asharam, Haripurakalan, in Dehradun on May 11, 2012 by the IAF and police. He was then brought to the Air Force Station, Ambala around midnight on May 12 and was medically examined.
The officer was later placed under Air Force custody and three officers of the Ambala station were put on duty as escorts. Around midnight on May 13, the officer pretended uneasiness and suffocation and requested the escorts sitting outside the door of the room to allow him to come out for fresh air. On being allowed, he ran away from the Air Force custody.
The two escort officers chased him. However, Shekhar took advantage of the darkness and grass and managed to give a slip to the escorts. His act of escaping from custody is an offence under Section 51 of the Air Force Act, 1950.
Deserter IAF Wing Commander caught trying to cross over to Pakistan - IBNLive
