BSF Jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw Returns Home After Three Weeks in Pakistani Custody

After spending three tense weeks in Pakistani custody, Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw finally crossed back into India on Wednesday, welcomed by his fellow officers at the Attari check post in Punjab. The handover, which took place around 10:30 am, was conducted under tight security and adhered to standard cross-border procedures.

The 40-year-old soldier, stationed in Punjab’s Firozpur district, had inadvertently crossed the International Border on April 23—just a day after a brutal terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam claimed 26 lives. The border had been on high alert since then, and tensions between the two nations made Shaw’s return a diplomatic challenge.

“He was in uniform and carrying his service rifle when he accidentally crossed over,” said a senior BSF officer. Shaw, a 17-year veteran of the force hailing from West Bengal’s Hooghly district, was detained by the Pakistan Rangers and held in their custody.

In normal circumstances, such incidents—where soldiers unknowingly cross over during border patrols—are resolved quickly through flag meetings between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers. But in Shaw’s case, those lines of communication remained frozen due to the post-Pahalgam standoff. “We had lodged a protest and were persistently pushing for his safe return,” the officer added.

Back home, the soldier’s family anxiously waited for news. Shaw’s pregnant wife, Rajani, along with their seven-year-old son, had flown to Chandigarh in the days following his detention to seek updates. “I just wanted to know he was safe,” Rajani said. “I kept faith that he would come back.”

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also voiced her concern early on, calling the situation “deeply distressing.” After Shaw’s release today, she shared her relief on social media: “I am happy to receive the information that our Purnam Kumar Shaw, the BSF jawan, has been released. I had all along been in touch with his family and spoke thrice with his wife here at Rishra, Hugli. Today also I called her. All the very best wishes for my brother-like jawan, his entire family including his wife Rajni Shaw.”

A visibly emotional Rajani thanked everyone who stood by her family during the ordeal. “From neighbours to officers, and especially the Chief Minister who kept calling me and encouraging me, I’m grateful to all,” she said. “The country stood behind him, and now he’s finally home.”​