BSF Constable Who Inadvertently Crossed Border Returned by Pakistan After 21 Days
Amritsar, May 14: BSF Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw, who had been in Pakistani custody since April 23, was repatriated to India on Wednesday. Shaw was handed over to Indian authorities at the Attari-Wagah border at 10:30 am, according to an official statement from the Border Security Force (BSF).
Shaw had inadvertently crossed the International Border while on operational duty in Punjab’s Ferozepur sector around 11:50 am on April 23. He was detained by the Pakistan Rangers shortly after.
The BSF confirmed that Shaw’s return was facilitated through persistent efforts that included regular flag meetings and communication through established diplomatic channels. “Due to continuous efforts by BSF, including regular flag meetings and communication through established channels, his repatriation was made possible,” the statement read.
The return of the constable comes in the wake of a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan on May 10. The agreement followed India’s recently launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, a targeted campaign against terror bases located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier voiced concern over Shaw’s detention. “This is an extremely unfortunate situation. His name is Shaw. Our party’s Kalyan Banerjee is in touch with the family. We want him to be brought back at the earliest. We have clearly stated that our party stands with the government on matters of internal and external security. This is not an issue for political division,” she said on May 5.
In response to the incident, the BSF issued a strict advisory to all its personnel, emphasizing increased vigilance during patrols along the sensitive border zones.
The BSF is responsible for guarding the 3,323-kilometre-long India-Pakistan border, which stretches across Jammu and Kashmir (including parts of the Line of Control), Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
