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Scroll.in
19-05-2025
- Scroll.in
BSF constable straying into Pakistan: How protocols from Bangladesh border could help smooth bumps
Constable PK Shaw of the Border Security Force who had strayed into Pakistan in the Ferozepur sector on April 23 was repatriated to India by Pakistan on May 14. He had strayed into Pakistan while deployed to provide security to the farmers who were working in their fields. The incident highlights the importance of putting in place a mechanism for dealing with such situations. Patrols of the two border guarding forces often come across each other during their daily operations. But the tense relations between India and Pakistan prevent any contact between them. The lack of contact between the troops on the ground presents major challenges in resolving minor problems such as the straying across the border of cattle and individuals, whether civilian or security force personnel. Among the tactical operations conducted by the Border Security Force in its primary role to promote a sense of security among border residents is the 'kisan guard' – a patrol of three or four constables that protects agriculturists. Shaw was a part of one such patrol when he inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan from a place with no border pillars in the vicinity. Because of the paucity of troops and the large area to be covered, the participants in a kisan guard are spread over a large area, even as they remain within sight of each other. One important factor that may have led to Shaw straying into Pakistani territory is that he as well as most members of his patrol were unfamiliar with the area. That the Pakistani authorities published his photo in the media guaranteed that he would not be harmed. But once he had been apprehended, the Pakistanis were not expected to release him without interrogating him and extracting whatever information that he could give. That would generally have taken about a week. However, despite repeated contact with the Pakistani Rangers by Border Security Force officials at all levels, the escalation of tension between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of Pahalgam attack on May 22 prevented Shaw's early release. It was perhaps the reported apprehension of a Pakistan Ranger on May 3 and the cessation of hostilities on May 10 that finally resulted in Shaw being released. The Pakistani Ranger was released to his country an hour after Shaw was returned, The Telegraph reported. The incident reminds me of a similar incident that occurred in my unit in the Hiranagar area of Samba in Jammu and Kashmir in the late 1990s. It was a cold, cloudy morning when my jawan strayed into Pakistani territory in an area that had not been demarcated on ground properly. The terrain of the area from where he strayed also contributed to his being unable to identify the exact alignment of the border. Moreover, that area had been witnessing intermittent heavy exchange of fire during that period because Pakistan had stopped recognising that line as the international border. They claimed that since the area was part of Jammu and Kashmir, it was also disputed territory. As a result, Indian troops were unable to go to the extreme end of our territory in the normal course. This was among the reasons the jawan was unfamiliar with the exact alignment of the boundary. Our efforts to contact the Pakistanis through flag meetings did not meet with success. However, a batchmate of mine commanding a unit adjacent to mine confirmed the welfare of my jawan during a scheduled meeting with his counterpart. The director general of the Border Security Force also spoke with the director general of the Pakistan Rangers. This finally resulted in the safe return of the jawan after about a week. The border created by British administrator C Radcliffe's scalpel in 1947 is not a straight, smooth line – even though it appears to be so on the maps. It is possible for a person unfamiliar with the zigzag nature of the boundary to stray aross, as was the case with Shaw Even civilians who live close to the border and cultivate land every day sometimes stray across and are retrieved after contacting the Pakistan Rangers. This demonstrates why it is vital for the troops on ground to have better working relations. The government also needs to revive the ground rules for border guarding forces, which were suspended since the 1971 war. These rules laid out the procedure for interaction of border guarding forces to resolve minor problems. India should consider replicating protocols established with its eastern neighbour, Bangladesh. The Comprehensive Border Management Plan signed in 2011 and Guidelines for Border Guarding Authorities signed in 1975 lay down guidelines for interaction between the Border Security Force and Border Guards Bangladesh. These guidelines facilitated the retrieval in some time in 2023-'14 of a busload of Indian civilians whose driver, unfamiliar with the area, drove into Bangladesh as the improvised wooden gate at the Customs post was open. A phone call to the sector commander of the Bangladesh force enabled the return of everyone within four or five hours. Such mechanisms and better communication with our counterparts will result in better border management The commanders on the ground also must ensure that the troops are properly familiarised with their area of deployment. The system of pre-induction training of troops to a new area must be followed strictly.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Time of India
Pakistan releases detained BSF Jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw, India receives soldier on May 14 at Attari
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 1030 hours on May 14, Wednesday. PK Shaw was handed over to the Indian authorities at the Joint Check Post Attari, Amritsar. The handover was conducted peacefully and in accordance with established protocols. Pakistan Rangers detained the BSF trooper on April 23 after he inadvertently crossed the International Border near Punjab's Firozpur and got detained by Pak Rangers. According to initial reports, the trooper unintentionally stepped into Pakistani territory while on operational duty around 11.50 hrs on April 23. Show more Show less
Hindustan Times
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Kin of BSF man held in Pakistan pin hopes on meet
In West Bengal's Hooghly district, the family of BSF constable, PK Shaw, detained in Pakistan since April 23, have been eagerly awaiting Monday's scheduled meeting between the DGMOs of India and Pakistan. Shaw was caught by Pakistan Rangers on the afternoon of April 23, after he inadvertently entered Pakistan's territory while on duty at the Indo-Pak border in Punjab. In the initial days, Pak Rangers personnel on the ground had attended flag meetings at the border with BSF officers, but as the forces were engaged in cross firing at different points along the border, communication between them at all levels has ceased. People aware of the matter said they are also waiting for clarity on the matter from the top brass because the communication lines between BSF personnel and Pak Rangers at the border has been completely stopped since May 7-- the day India carried out precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure at nine sites in territories, controlled by Pakistan, in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The officials said they are unsure if Pak Rangers has handed Shaw to the police in the few days instead of keeping him in their custody, as the norm followed by both countries in similar cases. In the past few days, at different points along the border in Jammu sector, Pak Rangers and the Pak Army have opened fire without any provocation. BSF has responded effectively by destroying their posts, bunkers, and also neutralising 7 terrorists. The situation at the border, especially in Jammu sector, is also tense because of Pak breaking the ceasefire agreement and firing at civilians and BSF personnel. On Sunday, constable Deepak Chimngakham who was injured during cross border firing on the morning of May 10 in RS Pura sector succumbed to his injuries, making him the second BSF trooper, who died in the line of duty in the same incident. Shaw's father Bholanath Shaw, a retired bank employee said, 'We are hopeful that Pakistan will return him now that a cease fire is in place. My daughter-in-law (Shaw's wife Rajni) had even gone to Punjab to meet the senior officials. She was told the they were trying their best but Pakistan was not responding. Even more than 24 hours after ceasefire, there is no development.' Bholanath said that his youngest son and other relatives are in Delhi, trying to meet senior government officials and seek Shaw's immediate return. 'Tomorrow, there is a meeting with some senior officers. I hope the ceasefire and talks with Pakistan also includes the return of my son. He was on duty when he crossed into Pakistan territory accidentally,' he added. Shaw, who had recently joined duty at the Indo-Punjab border in Punjab's Ferozepur district, had accidentally crossed the border while assisting border villagers(farmers) working in the fields near the zero line on Wednesday and was taken by the Pakistan border guarding force. Shaw, a resident of Hooghly in West Bengal, who was posted with an ad-hoc team at the Indo-Punjab border since April 10, was wearing his uniform and on duty when he inadvertently crossed the border.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BSF jawan's return delayed, but Pakistan Ranger's arrest gives leverage
Amritsar: The rising tensions between India and Pakistan are likely to delay the repatriation of Border Security Force (BSF) jawan P K Shaw even as the recent arrest of a Pakistan Ranger jawan by the BSF in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer has placed India on an equal footing for had detained Shaw after he accidentally crossed into their territory in the Ferozepur sector on April 23, a day after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack .Pakistan had said they would respond after receiving directions from their headquarters while repeatedly denying BSF requests for flag meetings. They maintained communication only from a distance of 30 to 40 meters and released two images of Shaw, one with his face covered and another showing his weapons placed on the ground, indicating a breakdown in standard border protocols and reluctance to facilitate his luck would have it, the BSF captured a Pakistani Rangers jawan from the international border near Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan on May 3 after he illegally entered India at Raisingh Nagar.A senior BSF official said, "Apprehension of the Pakistani Ranger jawan has certainly shifted the dynamics and given us a stronger position in negotiations. Now we are on equal terms, which changes the tone of discussions."Meanwhile, Shaw's pregnant wife is publicly pleading for her husband's safe repeated attempts, Atul Fulzele, inspector general, Punjab Frontier, BSF, couldn't be contacted for 120931807 413 |Amritsar: The rising tensions between India and Pakistan are likely to delay the repatriation of Border Security Force (BSF) jawan P K Shaw even as the recent arrest of a Pakistan Ranger jawan by the BSF in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer has placed India on an equal footing for had detained Shaw after he accidentally crossed into their territory in the Ferozepur sector on April 23, a day after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack .Pakistan had said they would respond after receiving directions from their headquarters while repeatedly denying BSF requests for flag meetings. They maintained communication only from a distance of 30 to 40 meters and released two images of Shaw, one with his face covered and another showing his weapons placed on the ground, indicating a breakdown in standard border protocols and reluctance to facilitate his luck would have it, the BSF captured a Pakistani Rangers jawan from the international border near Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan on May 3 after he illegally entered India at Raisingh Nagar.A senior BSF official said, "Apprehension of the Pakistani Ranger jawan has certainly shifted the dynamics and given us a stronger position in negotiations. Now we are on equal terms, which changes the tone of discussions."Meanwhile, Shaw's pregnant wife is publicly pleading for her husband's safe repeated attempts, Atul Fulzele, inspector general, Punjab Frontier, BSF, couldn't be contacted for 120931807 413 |
