BSF Jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw Returns to India After 20 Days in Pakistan Custody
BSF constable Purnam Kumar Shaw was repatriated to India on Wednesday, 20 days after he inadvertently crossed the border into Pakistan during duty in Punjab’s Ferozepur sector.
Border Security Force constable Purnam Kumar Shaw was handed over by Pakistan Rangers at 10:30 am at the Attari-Wagah border checkpoint in Amritsar. His return followed a series of diplomatic and security-level discussions, officials said.
Shaw had crossed the International Border on April 23, 2025, while on operational duty. “He had inadvertently crossed over while resting in a shaded area near the fence,” BSF said in a statement.
The handover was peaceful and followed established bilateral protocols. Shaw is currently undergoing debriefing by security agencies.
Shaw’s family in West Bengal expressed immense relief. “We thank the central government and BSF for securing his return. These 20 days were filled with anxiety,” a family member told reporters.
“We are now waiting to see him and hear about what he went through,” the family added.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached out to Shaw’s wife multiple times during his detention, said Trinamool Congress on X. “Home at last… Our prayers have finally been answered,” the party posted.
BJP’s West Bengal president Sukanta Majumdar thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring Shaw’s safe return. “This is a victory of India’s diplomacy and national pride,” he wrote on social media platform X.
Shaw, of the BSF’s 182nd Battalion, was posted near the border in Punjab’s Ferozepur sector. While on duty, he moved towards a shaded area and unknowingly crossed the border. He was detained by Pakistan Rangers and remained in their custody for 20 days.
His accidental border crossing came a day after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. The timing had raised concerns over his safety amid heightened border tensions.
Efforts to bring Shaw back included flag meetings between Indian and Pakistani forces and behind-the-scenes diplomatic engagement.
