Security officers have detained a man allegedly trying to cross into Pakistan near 17 KYD area of Bikaner, officials said on Sunday.
According to Khajuwala SHO Harpal Singh, “A man named Prashant Vedam was openly talking about travelling to Pakistan and was trying to find an easy route across the border. Army Intelligence picked up the information and quickly moved in to apprehend him. He has been identified as Prashant Vedam, a resident of Andhra Pradesh, who had travelled all the way from Visakhapatnam to the India–Pakistan border in Bikaner. Investigators suspect he might have been trying to return to Pakistan, though his exact motives will only be confirmed during interrogation.”
He will now be interrogated jointly by the Army and security agencies, Singh added.
Preliminary probe revealed that this was not Prashant’s first attempt. He had earlier crossed into Pakistan in 2017 through the Karni Post in Bikaner. He was arrested by the Pakistan Army at the time and remained in their custody until 2021, after which he was extradited to India via the Attari border. His decision to attempt the journey again has raised doubts about his explanation, and the Army remains sceptical of his claims.
Singh told The Indian Express, “He is claiming that he fell in love with a woman in Pakistan who was in jail in another cell. Prashant has told the police that he was going back to Pakistan to meet her. It is not clear whether he was still in contact with that girl. We have contacted his family in Visakhapatnam and his brother told us that Prashant is suffering from some mental health problem. His brother, along with his family, is travelling from Hyderabad to Bikaner and will reach on Monday evening. Things will get clear then, and we are waiting for their arrival.”
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
