Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw, who accidentally crossed the border, returns home safely
CHANDIGARH: The Border Security Force (BSF) Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw was given a warm welcome as he returned safely to India on Wednesday morning at the Attari Border after spending 20 days in Pakistan’s custody, confirmed the BSF. The 182nd Battalion jawan had inadvertently crossed the International Border near Ferozepur, Punjab, on April 23 while on operational duty.
The handover took place on Wednesday at the Joint Check Post in Attari, Amritsar, in a peaceful exchange following established protocols.
“Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw (34) has been taken back from Pakistan by the BSF at the Attari-Wagha border,” the BSF said in an official statement. Shaw is now undergoing a debriefing by security officials to ensure his well-being and gather details of the incident.
The incident took place just a day after the tragic April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran valley in which 26 people were killed, adding tension to an already sensitive situation.
Following Shaw’s detention by Pakistan Rangers, Indian Army and BSF officials promptly initiated a flag meeting with their Pakistani counterparts to secure his release.
The safe return of Constable Shaw brings relief to his family, colleagues, and the nation, underscoring the importance of diplomatic channels in resolving such cross-border incidents as they were worried about his release after the escalating tensions between two countries after Operation Sindoor.
His family lives in Rishra in Hooghly district of West Bengal and his wife, Rajani Sau, seven months pregnant.