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The group were forced into the river
The main respondent is a 27-year-old man from Pakistan. He was part of a group of six people: four men and two women. They were from Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka, aged between 27 and 30 years old. They had been in Bosnia for one month. On May 18, they reached the border area after a 10-hour walk from Bihać, without using any transportation such as buses or taxis.
Place where the group was intercepted by the police in Croatia
The respondent reports that the group was walking through Croatia when, a few kilometers after the city of Rakovica, they were found by Croatian police at around 8:30 p.m. They were loaded into three police vehicles- one small, one medium-sized, and one large- driven by five police officers dressed in black and wearing balaclavas. After being transported, the group was forcibly returned along the border with Bosnia towards the area of Tržac. During the pushback, one man was struck on the neck with a baton while being forced into a vehicle. Before crossing the border, all the group were forced into the river. The police also cut the straps of their backpacks and confiscated at least one mobile phone from a woman, possibly more from others.The main respondent also reported seeing surveillance cameras installed in the forest and along the river crossing between Bosnia and Croatia.
After being forced into the river, they were abandoned in a location without assistance, transportation, or belongings, leaving them with no choice but to continue on foot.
overview
6 people ,
from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India,
aged 27-30.