CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR: BSF jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw , who had been in the custody of Pakistan Rangers for nearly three weeks, was handed over to India on Wednesday morning. The repatriation took place at 10.30am at the Joint Check Post in Attari, Amritsar, and was carried out peacefully in line with established protocols, the Border Security Force (Punjab Frontier) said in a statement.
Inspector General (IG), Punjab Frontier, BSF, Atul Fulzele, confirmed that the jawan, Purnam Kumar Shaw, who had been in the custody of Pakistan Rangers since April 23, 2025, was repatriated to India around 10.30am at the Joint Check Post in Attari, Amritsar.
“The handover was conducted peacefully and in accordance with established protocols,” said the IG.
Shaw was captured a day after the Pahalgam terror attack and was released on the fourth day of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which came into effect on May 10.
The BSF constable, who had inadvertently crossed the international border along with his service weapon on April 23, was caught by Pakistan Rangers.
A BSF official stated that there were no signs of torture or injury marks.
A spokesperson of BSF’s Punjab Frontier confirmed, “Today BSF jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw, who had been in the custody of Pakistan Rangers since 23 April 2025, was handed over to India at about 10.30 am through the Joint Check Post Attari, Amritsar. The handover was conducted peacefully and in accordance with established protocols.”
Following his return, Shaw was taken for medical examination and debriefing.
BSF sources said that under normal circumstances, the jawan would have been returned the same day or the next. However, tensions escalated after the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 people, stalling repatriation talks and flag meetings across the border.
The jawan’s wife, a resident of West Bengal, had travelled to Punjab to pursue the case with BSF officers from the Western Command. Shaw is part of the BSF’s 182 Battalion, deployed along the international border in Punjab.
The BSF’s Punjab Frontier is responsible for guarding the 553 km-long Indo-Pak border in the state, comprising 518 km of land and 33 km of riverine terrain. The region is manned by multiple BSF battalions, a water wing unit, artillery, and other force multipliers to prevent cross-border infiltration, smuggling, and narcotics trafficking.
Who is Purnam Kumar Shaw?
Shaw, who is a resident of Rishra in West Bengal’s Hooghly district, had inadvertently crossed the International Border while on duty along the Punjab border on April 23, a day after Pahalgam terror attack. He was immediately detained by Pakistani forces and remained in their custody amid heightened tensions between the two countries.
Efforts to secure his release were initially taken up during flag meetings between Indian and Pakistani forces. However, the talks came to a halt just days before India launched retaliatory strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack. The escalation had left Shaw’s family in a state of deep anxiety, fearing that diplomatic efforts for his release would be derailed.
Speaking to TOI last week, Shaw’s wife, Rajani Shaw, had pleaded with the Indian government to ensure her husband’s return. “The government should immediately discuss his release and repatriation to India during the talks with Pakistan,” she had said after the ceasefire was announced on Saturday.
Rajani had travelled to Ferozpur with her young son and other family members to meet the commanding officer of Shaw’s unit. Though she was assured that talks were on, she was advised against visiting Delhi to seek help from the defence ministry. Just a day later, India launched strikes on terror camps.
Throughout the conflict, Rajani said she had been monitoring news broadcasts in hope of a positive update. “Neither the BSF officers nor central government officials responded to our appeals,” she said, recounting her repeated attempts to reach BSF’s Ferozpur office.
Local leaders, including Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee—who represents the Serampore parliamentary seat to which Rishra belongs—had also demanded immediate action. “We need to get him back immediately,” Banerjee posted on social media over the weekend.
On Wednesday, hope turned into relief for Shaw’s family and hometown as he was finally brought back to Indian soil after 21 days in Pakistani custody.
Inspector General (IG), Punjab Frontier, BSF, Atul Fulzele, confirmed that the jawan, Purnam Kumar Shaw, who had been in the custody of Pakistan Rangers since April 23, 2025, was repatriated to India around 10.30am at the Joint Check Post in Attari, Amritsar.
“The handover was conducted peacefully and in accordance with established protocols,” said the IG.
Shaw was captured a day after the Pahalgam terror attack and was released on the fourth day of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which came into effect on May 10.
The BSF constable, who had inadvertently crossed the international border along with his service weapon on April 23, was caught by Pakistan Rangers.
A BSF official stated that there were no signs of torture or injury marks.
A spokesperson of BSF’s Punjab Frontier confirmed, “Today BSF jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw, who had been in the custody of Pakistan Rangers since 23 April 2025, was handed over to India at about 10.30 am through the Joint Check Post Attari, Amritsar. The handover was conducted peacefully and in accordance with established protocols.”
Following his return, Shaw was taken for medical examination and debriefing.
BSF sources said that under normal circumstances, the jawan would have been returned the same day or the next. However, tensions escalated after the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 people, stalling repatriation talks and flag meetings across the border.
The jawan’s wife, a resident of West Bengal, had travelled to Punjab to pursue the case with BSF officers from the Western Command. Shaw is part of the BSF’s 182 Battalion, deployed along the international border in Punjab.
The BSF’s Punjab Frontier is responsible for guarding the 553 km-long Indo-Pak border in the state, comprising 518 km of land and 33 km of riverine terrain. The region is manned by multiple BSF battalions, a water wing unit, artillery, and other force multipliers to prevent cross-border infiltration, smuggling, and narcotics trafficking.
Who is Purnam Kumar Shaw?
Shaw, who is a resident of Rishra in West Bengal’s Hooghly district, had inadvertently crossed the International Border while on duty along the Punjab border on April 23, a day after Pahalgam terror attack. He was immediately detained by Pakistani forces and remained in their custody amid heightened tensions between the two countries.
Efforts to secure his release were initially taken up during flag meetings between Indian and Pakistani forces. However, the talks came to a halt just days before India launched retaliatory strikes on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack. The escalation had left Shaw’s family in a state of deep anxiety, fearing that diplomatic efforts for his release would be derailed.
Speaking to TOI last week, Shaw’s wife, Rajani Shaw, had pleaded with the Indian government to ensure her husband’s return. “The government should immediately discuss his release and repatriation to India during the talks with Pakistan,” she had said after the ceasefire was announced on Saturday.
Rajani had travelled to Ferozpur with her young son and other family members to meet the commanding officer of Shaw’s unit. Though she was assured that talks were on, she was advised against visiting Delhi to seek help from the defence ministry. Just a day later, India launched strikes on terror camps.
Throughout the conflict, Rajani said she had been monitoring news broadcasts in hope of a positive update. “Neither the BSF officers nor central government officials responded to our appeals,” she said, recounting her repeated attempts to reach BSF’s Ferozpur office.
Local leaders, including Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee—who represents the Serampore parliamentary seat to which Rishra belongs—had also demanded immediate action. “We need to get him back immediately,” Banerjee posted on social media over the weekend.
On Wednesday, hope turned into relief for Shaw’s family and hometown as he was finally brought back to Indian soil after 21 days in Pakistani custody.
You may also like
3.4 magnitude earthquake hits Kutch, no damage reported
Prison guard has throat slashed by lag in latest terrifying attack behind bars
Rory McIlroy gives spiky response on Bryson DeChambeau snub during Masters final round
Jack Draper crashes out of Italian Open after gruelling Carlos Alcaraz battle
Sickening CCTV shows killer chasing homeless man before beating him to death
