Amritsar, May 14 – Pakistan on Wednesday returned Border Security Force (BSF) constable Purnam Kumar Shaw to India, 21 days after he was detained by Pakistani Rangers near the International Border in Punjab.
According to a BSF spokesperson, Shaw was handed over at 10:30 a.m. at the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post in Amritsar district. A photo released by the BSF showed him with a beard, unkempt hair, and wearing a dark green T-shirt.
The BSF stated that Shaw had “inadvertently” crossed the border during an operational duty in the Ferozepur sector on April 23 around 11:50 a.m., where he was subsequently apprehended by Pakistani forces.
Upon his return, Shaw is expected to undergo a thorough medical examination, followed by counseling and a debriefing session where he will be questioned about his time in Pakistani custody. An internal inquiry will also be conducted to investigate the circumstances of his crossing and any possible procedural lapses.
The BSF emphasized that the handover was conducted peacefully and in line with established protocols. The spokesperson credited the successful repatriation to consistent efforts by the BSF, including flag meetings and ongoing communication with Pakistani counterparts.
Shaw was reportedly part of the ‘Kisan Guard,’ a unit that protects Indian farmers working near the border fence. Officials believe he may have misjudged the boundary while resting under a tree, leading to his capture. His detention came just a day after the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.
Shaw is a native of Rishra in West Bengal’s Hooghly district. During his detention, his wife had been actively urging the BSF and speaking to the media for updates on his condition and pressing for his safe and swift return amid heightened military tensions following India’s Operation Sindoor.
