 "Purnam Kumar Shaw, the Border Security Force (BSF) jawan recently released by Pakistan, spent a distressing three weeks in captivity across the border. Image courtesy: News18")
Purnam Kumar Shaw, the Border Security Force (BSF) jawan recently released by Pakistan, spent a distressing three weeks in captivity across the border.
The BSF personnel had inadvertently crossed the international border in Punjab while looking for shade under a tree and was arrested by Pakistani Rangers on April 23, a day after the terror attack in Pahalgam, reports the Times of India.
With relations already strained between both sides, efforts to bring him back became increasingly challenging. Multiple rounds of negotiations took place between Indian and Pakistani officials, and the situation remained uncertain for days.
Finally, after both countries reached an “understanding” on May 10 to pause military operations along the International Border and the Line of Control, a breakthrough came. Four days later, Shaw was released and crossed back into India on Wednesday, bringing immense relief to his family.
Soon after his return, Shaw reached out to his family and shared the trauma he had faced in custody.
Here’s what happened.
‘Treated like a spy, grilled at interrogations’
Shaw told his wife, Rajani, that while he was not physically harmed during his detention in Pakistan, he was subjected to immense mental pressure. He was reportedly denied basic needs like bathroom access and sleep, among other inhumane acts.
“He was served food regularly. But they did not allow him to brush his teeth. When he spoke, he sounded extremely tired and said he was sleep-deprived,” Rajani told The Times of India.
During the 21 days he spent in Pakistani custody, Shaw, 40, told his wife that he was treated more like a spy than a BSF jawan. He was moved across three undisclosed locations — one of which, he believes, was close to an airbase, as he could hear aircraft flying overhead. At one point, he was also placed in a jail cell.
Throughout these transfers, Shaw said he was mostly kept blindfolded.
According to government sources quoted by India Today, Pakistani officials, dressed in civilian clothing, interrogated Shaw. He was repeatedly questioned about BSF deployments along the border and asked for information about senior officers posted at the International Border.
They also pushed him to share contact details, but since Shaw wasn’t carrying a mobile phone at the time of his capture, in line with BSF protocol, he couldn’t provide them with any numbers.
Originally from West Bengal’s Hooghly district, Shaw serves in the 24th Battalion of the BSF. He was recently posted to the Ferozepur sector in Punjab, which borders Pakistan. He was escorting farmers along the border when he accidentally strayed into Pakistani territory while seeking shelter.
The BSF’s Punjab Frontier is responsible for securing a 553-km stretch along the India-Pakistan border. This includes 518 km of land boundary and another 33 km along rivers and other waterways.
The jawan underwent a formal debriefing and is reported to be in a stable physical and mental condition, reports India Today. As per protocol, the clothes he wore while in Pakistani custody were inspected and discarded.
Could have returned sooner, Indo-Pak tensions made things worse
As per BSF sources quoted by The Times of India, under normal circumstances, Shaw would have been handed back either the same day or the following day after he inadvertently crossed the border.
But the situation turned complicated due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. The deteriorating atmosphere stalled repatriation talks and delayed scheduled flag meetings between the two countries.
Every time Indian officials tried to push for his return, Pakistani authorities repeated the same line: “We are waiting for directions from the higher-ups.”
Back home, the uncertainty around Shaw’s return left his family deeply anxious. They feared that the diplomatic back-and-forth might collapse entirely.
Rajani, who is currently pregnant, travelled to Ferozepur with her young son and other family members to meet the commanding officer of Shaw’s unit. While she was told that talks were underway, things went further south as just a day later, India launched air strikes on terror camps across the border through Operation Sindoor.
Throughout the tense period, Rajani said she remained glued to news channels, hoping for a positive update.
Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee, who represents Serampore, the constituency that includes Shaw’s hometown Rishra, also publicly demanded immediate intervention. “We need to get him back immediately,” Banerjee wrote in a social media post.
Finally, on May 14, hope turned into relief. Shaw was brought back to Indian soil via the Attari-Wagah border, ending his 21-day ordeal.
Following his return, his wife Rajani expressed gratitude, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for ensuring his release.
Following the jawan’s return, Rajani expressed gratitude, thanking PM Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for ensuring his release.
Despite everything Shaw went through, his family remains proud of his service. They believe he should continue serving the country, reports News18.
“I want him to work for the country only. He will again go back to protect our country,” his father, Bholanath Shaw, said.
With input from agencies