(a) whether the Government has not been able to trace out those soldiers who had disappeared during the war of 1971;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the names of those soldiers;
(c) whether those missing soldiers have not been recognised as martyred soldiers; and
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)
(a) to (d): A statement is attached.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4463 FOR ANSWER ON 19.12.2014
(a) & (b): Fifty four (54) missing defence personnel of 1965 and 1971 Wars (including one from Border Security Force) are believed to be in custody in Pakistan. A list of such personnel is annexed (Annexure). The Government has repeatedly been taking up the matter with the Pakistan Government. However, Pakistan does not acknowledge the presence of any such personnel in its custody. A delegation of 14 relatives of missing defence personnel also visited 10 Jails in Pakistan during 1-14 June, 2007. The delegation, however, could not conclusively confirm the physical presence of any missing defence personnel.
(c) & (d): Honble High Court of Gujarat vide their judgement dated 23.12.2011 passed an order, interalia, regarding payment of service and retirement benefits to the next of kin of the missing defence personnel believed to be in the custody in Pakistan, as if they retired on superannuation. The order of the Honble Court has been accepted by the Government and necessary action has been taken towards compliance of the ibid judgement.