13-year-old crosses border for SRK

Shah Rukh Khan (TOI Photo) AMRITSAR: His obsession for Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan made him flee his home in Pakistan and cross man-made borders, only to be caught by those guarding these. But luck was on his side and he was handed over back to the Pakistan Rangers after completing the formalities. The desire to meet the actor was too much for Mohammad Alim (13), a resident of Khangarh in Mujjaffarnagar, Pakistan, and son of Faiz Bakash, a poor vegetable vendor, that he crossed over into the Indian side. He was the youngest of the four brothers and sisters, he said. It was routine patrolling along the international border late on July 13 when a BSF patrolling party spotted a young boy arriving from Pakistan near Mahwa border. He was asked to stop and arrested. During interrogation he maintained that he was a die-hard fan of Shah Rukh. He even enacted scenes from his movies, which were sufficient proof for the BSF to trust his intentions. BSF DIG Mohammad Acqil said, "Alim was allowed to go after completing the necessary formalities and interrogation by the security agencies. Once we were satisfied we informed the Pakistan Rangers about him, who acted swiftly and confirmed his address and other antecedents in Pakistan," said a senior BSF official, who didn't want to be quoted. A flag meeting was held at the Indo-Pak joint checkpost at Wagah and Alim was handed over to the Rangers.