BSF jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw
Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw was repatriated to India on Wednesday after he spent three weeks in the custody of Pakistan Rangers.
Shaw, 40, a member of the BSF’s 182nd Battalion, had inadvertently crossed into Pakistani territory in the Ferozepur sector of Punjab on April 23. He was immediately apprehended by Pakistani Rangers and remained in their custody until his return through the Attari-Wagah border.
The incident took place a day after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam shot dead 25 tourists and a local pony operator, straining ties between India and Pakistan.
Amid rising tensions, the BSF launched sustained efforts to secure Shaw’s release, engaging in repeated communications with Pakistani authorities and holding a flurry of flag meetings.
‘Husband fit and fine’
In an official statement, the BSF said, “Today at 1030 hrs, Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw was taken back from Pakistan by the BSF at the Attari-Wagah border. Constable Shaw had inadvertently crossed over to Pakistani territory while on operational duty in the Ferozepur sector on April 23 around 1150 hrs and was detained by Pakistan Rangers.”
Shaw was part of the ‘Kisan Guard’ unit, deployed to protect Indian farmers working in fields ahead of the border fence. He reportedly misjudged the alignment of the International Border and crossed over while seeking shade under a tree.
Speaking to reporters, Rajani Shaw, the jawan’s wife, said the Commanding Officer had called her earlier in the day to inform her of her husband’s return and asked her not to worry. “My husband also made a video call to me, and he is absolutely fine — physically fit as well,” she added.
Reacting to the development, West Bengal’s ruling party, the All India Trinamool Congress, posted on X: “Home at last. After days of anxiety and uncertainty, BSF Jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw has finally been repatriated. Smt @MamataOfficial personally reached out to his wife multiple times, offering reassurance and support during the ordeal. We wish Purnam a full recovery from the trauma he endured and hope he finds peace in the embrace of his loved ones.”
Published on May 14, 2025