Pakistan Returns BSF Jawan to India After 21 Days in Custody
Amritsar, May 14 — Pakistan handed over Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw to India on Wednesday, 21 days after he was captured near the international border in Punjab. The handover took place at the Attari-Wagah border crossing in the presence of security officials from both sides.
As per agency report, Shaw was returned at 10:30 am at the Joint Check Post in Attari, directly across from Pakistan's Wagah border. A photo released by the BSF shows Shaw with a beard, mustache, and unkempt hair, dressed in a green, round-neck t-shirt.
BSF officials stated that Shaw had inadvertently crossed into Pakistani territory on the night of April 23 during an operational duty in the Ferozepur sector around 11:50 pm. He was then detained by the Pakistan Rangers.
Following his return, Shaw is set to undergo a full medical examination and counseling session. He will also face a debriefing by BSF officials, who will question him regarding his time in Pakistani custody. Officials confirmed that Shaw, a member of the 24th BSF Battalion, will not immediately return to active duty. He will instead participate in an internal investigation by the Punjab Frontier unit of BSF to assess the circumstances of the incident and identify any lapses.
The BSF confirmed that the repatriation was conducted peacefully in accordance with established protocols. Regular flag meetings and continued communication between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers were credited for facilitating Shaw’s return.
The jawan was part of the 'Kisan Guard' unit assigned to protect Indian farmers working near the border fence. According to sources, Shaw misjudged the boundary line and had rested under a tree near the border when he was apprehended by Pakistani forces.
Shaw hails from Rishra in Hooghly district, West Bengal. During his detention, his wife had appealed to both BSF authorities and the media for information on his whereabouts and called for his swift release, especially in light of the recent military tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor.
