‘Can't believe it': Bengal family celebrates as Pakistan hands over BSF jawan Purnam Shaw to India
Amid the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan, a wave of immense relief swept through the family of BSF jawan Purnam Shaw. On Tuesday morning, Bholenath Shaw, Purnam's father, received official confirmation from BSF Headquarters that his son had been released by Pakistan the previous evening at 7:30 PM.
'I couldn't believe it,' Bholenath told The Indian Express over the phone from his residence in Rishra, Hooghly. 'I want to thank the Indian Government, our Chief Minister, state leaders, and God for his release.'
Purnam Shaw returned to India through the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday evening. His father said Purnam is currently undergoing medical examinations and will be debriefed about his time in Pakistan before finally returning home to reunite with his family. 'I'm all set to distribute sweets after this great news,' he added, jubilant.
This development comes after weeks of anxiety for the Shaw family. Purnam, a BSF constable from Rishra, had been taken into custody by Pakistan Rangers on April 23 after inadvertently crossing the international border in Punjab's Ferozepur district. His crossing came just a day after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which had escalated border tensions.
'Today at 10:30 am, Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw was received from Pakistan by the BSF at the Attari-Wagah border. He had inadvertently crossed into Pakistani territory while on operational duty in the Ferozepur sector on April 23, 2025, at around 11:50 am and was detained by Pakistan Rangers. His repatriation was made possible through persistent efforts by BSF, including regular flag meetings and communication with Pakistan Rangers,' read an official BSF statement.
Earlier, Purnam's wife Rajani Shaw, who is pregnant, expressed her gratitude after receiving a call on Sunday from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. 'I'm extremely thankful to our Chief Minister, who personally called and spoke to me in detail. She said she had spoken with senior BSF officials and confirmed that my husband is in good health. That assurance was a great relief,' Rajani told The Indian Express.
She also spoke of her earlier despair: 'I had lost all hope,' she said, explaining her fear for her husband's safety in a country with which India shares a tense relationship. However, Saturday's ceasefire announcement had offered a glimmer of hope, renewing her faith in his safe return.
Kalyan Banerjee, TMC MP from the Serampore constituency, had been actively pushing for Purnam's release, urging immediate government intervention. He contacted the BSF Director General and even reached out to the Prime Minister's Office to expedite the process.
'The news of Purnam Shaw's release ends a period of intense worry for the family. We are grateful for the diplomatic efforts and the recent ceasefire that facilitated his safe return. We eagerly await his arrival home,' said another family member.
BJP state President Sukanta Majumdar posted on X: 'A heartfelt thank you to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for once again proving that under your strong and decisive leadership, no Indian is ever left behind. Today, the safe return of BSF jawan Shri Purnam Kumar Shaw, who was in Pakistan's custody since April 23, is not just a moment of relief—it's a victory of India's resolve, diplomacy, and pride…'
Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics.
With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences.
Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
6 minutes ago
- Time of India
Air India plane crash: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio 'heartbroken' over fatal tragedy that left over 200 dead
A London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed in a residential area in Ahmedabad minutes after taking off. The aircraft, carrying 242 people, from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed immediately after takeoff on Thursday afternoon. More than 200 people are feared killed. There were 169 Indians, 53 British, one Canadian and seven Portuguese nationals onboard apart from 12 crew members. Police said there appeared to be no survivors, according to news agency AFP. Several videos posted online showed an aircraft rapidly losing altitude -- with its nose up -- before it hit a building and exploded into an orange ball of fire. Authorities said it went down outside the airport perimeter, in a crowded residential area while an AFP reporter in the city said the plane crashed between a hospital and the city's Ghoda Camp neighbourhood. ALSO READ: Air India plane crash: What is Mayday call that pilot issued before fatal tragedy in Ahmedabad? Marco Rubio on Air India plane crash UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio were among scores of world leaders who offered condolences to the people of India in wake of the plane crash in Ahmedabad on Thursday. "Heartbroken to hear the news of a tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad, India. My prayers are with all who lost their loved ones in this horrible incident." Live Events — SecRubio (@SecRubio) Investigators with the US National Transportation Safety Board will travel to assist Indian counterparts probing the brutal Air India crash, the agency announced Thursday. "The NTSB will be leading a team of US investigators travelling to India to assist... with (the) investigation into the crash of an Air India Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad, India," the agency said on X, adding that under international protocols, "all information on the investigation will be provided by the Government of India." ALSO READ: 2024 US Presidential election is under scrutiny as lawsuit claims discrepancies in Rockland County, New York Meanwhile, the UK government said it was sending a team to support the investigation into the Air India crash in Ahmedabad that has killed more than 200 people. "The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has formally offered its assistance to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, India. We are deploying a multidisciplinary investigation team to India to support the Indian led investigation," the AAIB said in a statement. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
6 minutes ago
- Business Standard
We are exploring path to reset ties: MEA on India-Canada relations
Describing Indian and Canada as "vibrant democracies", the external affairs ministry on Thursday said New Delhi believes the forthcoming meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries on the sidelines of the G7 Summit will offer an important opportunity to exchange views and explore pathways to reset bilateral ties. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this in response to a query during his weekly media briefing. "Our Prime Minister had received a call from the Canadian Prime Minister last week. During the call, Prime Minister Mark Carney invited Prime Minister (Modi) to attend G7 (meeting), and as you are aware the invitation has been accepted," he said. The call was also an occasion for the two prime ministers to reflect or talk about India-Canada relations, and how it can be taken forward, the MEA spokesperson said. Canada will be hosting the crucial G7 meeting later this month. "India and Canada are vibrant democracies, which are bound by shared democratic values and steadfast commitment to the rule of law. And, of course, very vibrant people to people ties," Jaiswal said. "We believe that the forthcoming meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada will offer an important opportunity for them to exchange views on bilateral and global issues, and explore pathways to set or reset the relationship, based on mutual respect, shared interests and sensitivity to each other's concerns," he said.
News18
9 minutes ago
- News18
Vijay Rupani Killed In Air India Crash: Which Other Indian Leaders Died In Aviation Mishaps?
Last Updated: Several tragic aviation accidents have claimed the lives of notable Indian leaders, including sitting and former chief ministers, union ministers, and key political figures Among the confirmed fatalities of Thursday's tragic Air India crash is Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Rupani. Rupani, who served as the 16th chief minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021, was reportedly en route to London. His demise marks the second time Gujarat has lost a former CM in an aviation tragedy. Several tragic aviation accidents have claimed the lives of notable Indian leaders, including sitting and former chief ministers, union ministers, and key political figures. Balwantrai Mehta (1965): The second chief minister of Gujarat, Balwantrai Gopalji Mehta, tragically died in September 1965 during the Indo-Pakistani War. His civilian Beechcraft aircraft, flying from Mithapur to the Kutch border, was mistakenly shot down by a Pakistan Air Force pilot. He died along with his wife, staff members, a journalist, and the crew. Mohan Kumaramangalam (1973): An influential parliamentarian and former union minister, S Mohan Kumaramangalam, died when Indian Airlines Flight 440 crashed near Delhi on May 31, 1973. His body was identified only by his Parker pen and a hearing aid. Sanjay Gandhi (1980): The younger son of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and a rising star in the Congress party, Sanjay Gandhi, died in a plane crash on June 23, 1980. He was piloting a Pitts S-2A aircraft, reportedly performing aerial acrobatics near Safdarjung Airport in Delhi, when the aircraft lost control and crashed. His untimely death brought a sudden end to what many believed was the political heir apparent to the Gandhi dynasty. Surendra Nath (1994): The then governor of Punjab and acting governor of Himachal Pradesh, Surendra Nath, along with nine members of his family, died when the government's Super-King aircraft crashed into high mountains in bad weather on July 9, 1994, in Himachal Pradesh. Madhavrao Scindia (2001): A towering Congress figure and a nine-term Member of Parliament, Madhavrao Scindia, then a former union minister, was travelling to a political rally in Kanpur on September 30, 2001, when his private Beechcraft aircraft crashed in Uttar Pradesh's Mainpuri district. The fire-engulfed wreckage left all eight on board dead. GMC Balayogi (2002): The then Speaker of the Lok Sabha, GMC Balayogi, died on March 3, 2002, when the Bell 206 helicopter carrying him crashed into a pond near Kovvadalanka village in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district. Poor visibility was cited as a contributing factor. OP Jindal and Surender Singh (2005): Industrialist and then Haryana power minister OP Jindal, along with the state's agriculture minister Surender Singh, perished when their King Cobra helicopter crashed near Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on March 31, 2005. They were en route to Chandigarh from Delhi. YS Rajasekhara Reddy (2009): Popularly known as YSR, the then chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Rajasekhara Reddy, died on September 2, 2009, when his Bell 430 helicopter crashed in the dense Nallamala forest due to bad weather. His body was traced 27 hours after the helicopter went missing. Dorjee Khandu (2011): The then chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Dorjee Khandu, died in a helicopter crash on April 30, 2011, while flying from Tawang to Itanagar. After a five-day frantic search across dense West Kameng forests, his wrecked Pawan Hans chopper was discovered. Poor aircraft conditions and challenging terrain were believed to have contributed to the fatal incident.
