The body of Reshma, a 65-year-old woman from Rajasthan's Barmer district who died in Pakistan on July 25, was brought to India, said an official.
In a rather unusual display of humanity, Pakistani Rangers handed over the body to Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on Tuesday following which both sides prayed for the departed soul.
Barmer administration PRO Madanlal Barupal told IANS that the Pakistan Rangers brought her body to the zero line located on the border in an ambulance where immigration formalities were completed and thereafter her body was handed over to her family members.
The Munabao border, which had remained closed for the last 26 years since 1992, was opened on Tuesday to bring Reshma's body. It was in 1992 that this border was opened last when then Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh had gone to Pakistan through this route.
Reshma's son Sahib Khan took the body. The BSF officials, immigration staff, police and the administrative officials, among others, were present on the Indian side of border to receive Reshma's body. The border gates were opened and Reshma's last wish to get her last rites performed in India was fulfilled.
Barupal said that the Pakistan High Commission had permitted to send Reshma's body to India on Monday.
The deceased, a resident of Agasadi village in Barmer, went to Pakistan to meet her sisters on June 30 and died on July 25.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had assured help to her family members for getting Reshma's mortal remains.
Swaraj in a tweet had asked Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria to extend all necessary help to the family members.
--IANS
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