Date:02/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/02/stories/2006090202700900.htm

National

Abandoned `Pakistani' in hospital

Staff Reporter

Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi informed of the incident

Kolkata: The fate of Barao, a woman said to be of Pakistani origin and aged around 30, who was found abandoned by the side of the Kolkata-Digha highway near Contai in West Bengal's Purbo Medinipur district over four months ago, hangs in a diplomatic balance.

Subsequently the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was apprised of the incident.

When contacted, an official with the Pakistan High Commission, said the Governments of both the countries have been informed and efforts were on to ascertain whether the woman was actually of Pakistani origin as she claimed.

The matter had been brought to the notice of the Pakistan High Commission by Diganta, a social welfare organisation, which had faxed a message to M.A. Khan, Head of Chancery with the Pakistan High Commission in India.

Though unable to recollect how she ended up here, Barao remembers the name of the village she hails from — Balgao in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.