Was grilled every night, says sleep-deprived BSF jawan
Rishra:
Purnam Kumar Shaw
, the BSF jawan freed from Pakistan after 21 days, was deprived of sleep and interrogated regarding the deployment of BSF personnel and officers on the international border almost every night.
Following his release after being held captive for three weeks, Shaw shared his ordeal with his wife, Rajani, over the phone on Wednesday. Shaw had inadvertently crossed over into Pakistani territory while on duty at the border in Punjab's Ferozepur sector on April 23, a day after the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam.
Hours after the phone conversation on Wednesday, Rajani told TOI that there was no doubt he would continue to serve the country.
"For 17 years, he has been doing so. We are proud that he does so and will return to duty again," said Rajani.
Though Shaw told his wife that he was not physically tortured, he felt mentally drained after being interrogated every night. Rajani said he felt he was treated as a spy rather than a paramilitary jawan guarding the border. She also learnt that during his captivity, he was shifted to three different locations, at least one of which appeared to be near an airbase as there were sounds of aircraft movement.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
CFD's: Investing $200 in Emaar Malls can give you a second income
TradeLG
Undo
"He was served food regularly. But they did not allow him to brush his teeth. When he spoke, he sounded extremely tired and said he was sleep-deprived," said Rajani, who intends to travel to Pathankot and meet him if he doesn't get leave to visit Rishra soon.
Shaw returned to India through the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday evening. He thereafter underwent medical examinations and was debriefed about his time in Pakistan. This development ended weeks of anxiety for the Shaw family.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
17 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
BSF pushes back over 5K illegal Bangladeshi entrants
NEW DELHI: At a time when the government is aggressively identifying and deporting illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, the Border Security Force (BSF) has revealed that it has, for three consecutive years, apprehended and repelled over 5,000 people belonging to the neighbouring country who tried to infiltrate into the Indian side of the borders falling in the eastern and north-eastern states. Presenting year-wise details of those who attempted to enter India illegally from Bangladesh and were pushed back to their native country, BSF officials said that 2,406 such people were sent back in 2023. The number increased to 2,425 in 2024, and as of May 2025, it stood at 557. They, however, noted that the state-wise break-up revealed a dramatically high number of such cases (2,688) in bordering areas falling under West Bengal. The TMC has consistently been criticised by the ruling BJP at the Centre. The data showed that the numbers in border areas in South Bengal are disproportionately higher, with 2,410 people apprehended and sent back, whereas in North Bengal the number is meagre at 278 in three years.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Pakistani Minister Backs LeT Commander Saifullah Khalid, Blames India For Pahalgam Attack
Last Updated: Pakistani politician Malik Ahmad Khan defended Saifullah Khalid, one of those behind the Pahalgam terror attack, claiming India accused him of the attack without proper probe. Days after Saifullah Kasuri, alias Khalid, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander and one of those behind the Pahalgam terror attack, was spotted spewing venom against India at a public rally in Pakistan's Punjab, Pakistani politician Malik Ahmad Khan has come out in his support and said Saifullah was 'blamed" for the terror attack in Pahalgam. Malik Ahmad Khan was one of those present with Saifullah during his public address on May 28. The rally had also witnessed the presence of Talha Saeed, the son of LeT founder and Mumbai terror attacks mastermind, Hafiz Saeed. In a video, widely shared on social media, Malik Ahmad Khan could be seen speaking to reporters after Saifullah's rally and saying that he was invited to the rally. Khan said, 'India, without an investigation, has formed a perception that Saifullah is responsible for the terror attack in Pahalgam." 'Indian authorities got a First Information Report (FIR) registered against Saifullah within days of the Pahalgam terror attack, and there is no evidence to support their accusations," Khan said. He further accused India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being responsible for the various terror attacks in India, and reiterated that the accusations against Saifullah should be investigated. At the May 28 rally, Saifullah Khalid spewed venom against India, Hindus, and the Bharatiya Janata Party. He also referred to the Pakistani terrorists killed in India's 'Operation Sindoor' as 'martyrs". 'I was informed that there was a terrorist attack in India on April 22, and later I came to know that India had referred to me as the mastermind of the attack," Khalid could be heard saying at the rally. 'We are not going to be scared by bullet shots and firing, and we aspire to die as martyrs," he added. As many as 26 tourists were killed by armed terrorists in Kashmir's iconic Pahalgam on April 22. Survivors later said the terrorists had asked them about their faith, and shot dead those who said they were non-Muslims. The terrorists also asked the tourists to recite a 'Kalma' (an Islamic phrase) to confirm if they were non-Muslims, before shooting them point-blank. Later, The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack. In response, India, on the intervening night of May 7 and 8, launched 'Operation Sindoor' against Pakistan and destroyed multiple terror targets there. More than 100 terrorists, taking shelter in Pakistan, were also killed in the operation. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: June 03, 2025, 07:17 IST
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Mysterious Woman Emerges As Key Figure In 'Spy' Case Involving CRPF Jawan With Pakistan Ties
Last Updated: The NIA is now investigating all possible avenues to uncover the full modus operandi of the suspected Pakistani intelligence agent A mysterious woman has emerged as a central figure in the ongoing Pakistan-linked espionage case involving a CRPF jawan. According to sources in the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Motiram Jat allegedly passed sensitive information to a female operative linked to Pakistani intelligence. Sources also told CNN-News18 that the woman initially contacted Jat and subsequently extracted classified information. The NIA alleged that the woman obtained sensitive details related to Indian defence, paramilitary forces, and border security through various means. In return, she made payments to Motiram through multiple financial channels. Investigators say this female operative employed a range of payment methods, and the NIA is now investigating all possible avenues to uncover the full modus operandi of the suspected Pakistani intelligence agent. On Saturday, the NIA carried out multiple raids across India in connection with the case, including three locations in Kolkata. In total, more than 15 locations were raided nationwide. NIA sources suggest that some of the Kolkata sites may be linked to suspicious financial transactions. As part of the ongoing investigation, two people have been summoned for questioning. Masood Alam was interrogated today and was released hours later. However, he has been asked to appear again for questioning on Tuesday. Another person, Ejaj, a shopkeeper, is expected to appear for interrogation on Tuesday. The CRPF jawan was posted in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and was transferred just six days before the terror attack that killed 26 people. Jat served in the 116th Battalion of the CRPF as an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) before his transfer. He has been dismissed from service by the CRPF. The NIA registered a case on 20 May, following the arrest of the suspended CRPF ASI, Jat, who had been sharing sensitive information with PIOs since 2023 and had received funds through various conduits in India in exchange for leaking classified information related to national security. He has been remanded to NIA custody until 6 June by the Special Court at Patiala House. First Published:
