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The Hindu
24-05-2025
- The Hindu
BSF jawan detained by Pakistan a month ago returns home to a hero's welcome
Purnam Kumar Shaw, the Border Security Force (BSF) jawan who was repatriated to India on May 14 after spending over 20 days in the custody of Pakistan Rangers, returned to his home in West Bengal on Friday (May 23, 2025). Hundreds of people, including members of the his family who had gathered at the Howrah railway station, cheered and waved the Tricolour as he alighted from a train in the afternoon. Many jostled to get a glimpse of Mr. Shaw, who was returning home exactly a month after his detention. The jawan from BSF's 24th Battalion was detained by Pakistani forces on April 23, a day after the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead. He had inadvertently strayed across the international border and entered the neighbouring country's territory while on duty in Ferozepur, Punjab. 'It is all because of your blessings and good wishes that I have been able to come back,' Mr. Shaw told mediapersons. He was escorted out of the station by police personnel. 'This is like a second life for me,' he told reporters after meeting his family members and pregnant wife, Rajni, who had been running a campaign to push for his release. The jawan's house in Hooghly's Rishra town was decked up for a grand welcome while the neighbourhood was full of banners and posters extolling his bravery. The family offered prayers, following which Mr. Shaw got a chance to relish his favourite delicacies. 'Looking forward to baby' 'Entire Rishra is decorated. It is like Deepavali for us, and Purnam, like Lord Ram, who is coming back after vanvaas (exile),' said Ms. Rajni, adding that she wishes to forget her husband's detention as a horrible dream and move on with planning the birth of their child.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Nothing will stop him from serving country again: Father of BSF jawan released from Pakistani custody
BSF Jawan Purnam Shaw returned to India after 22 days in Pakistan custody, bringing immense relief to his family in Rishra. His wife, Rajni, expressed gratitude to PM Modi and CM Mamata Banerjee for their support. RISHRA : 'We cannot even imagine what he faced in Pakistan, but nothing will stop him from serving the country again,' said 62-year-old Bholanath Shaw, an e-rickshaw driver in Rishra whose youngest son Purnam re-entered India through the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday after spending 22 days in the custody of Pakistan Rangers. On April 23, a day after the Pahalgam terror attack, the BSF jawan had inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan while on operational duty. For over three weeks, Purnam's family members here had swung between hope and despair as the tension between India and Pakistan mounted. Purnam's pregnant wife Rajni even travelled to Ferozepur to seek answers from her husband's seniors in BSF but nothing much materialised. When India launched Operation Sindoor, their hearts sank. 'The day attacks on both sides intensified, I started losing hope. The (BSF) Commanding Officer at Kangra assured me of my husband's return but we couldn't be sure. What if the war escalated and continued for a long time? Fear gripped the entire family,' recounted Rajni Finally on Wednesday morning, Shaw Sadan erupted in joy and tears when the BSF, in a press note, confirmed that Purnam was back home. 'Every citizen of this country prayed for my sindoor and I can't thank them enough,' said a tearful Rajni, thanking PM Narendra Modi and CM Mamata Banerjee for their help and support. BSF man's family happy, so is entire nation: CM A little after noon, Rajni's phone rang. ' Main bol raha hun (It's me),' said a heavy, hoarse voice. Unable to recognise the caller, Rajni tentatively asked, ' Aap PK Sir hain (Are you PK Sir)?' 'I couldn't believe it was him. We don't take our husbands' names. I called him PK Sir to confirm it was indeed him,' said the happy wife. It was a brief call and Purnam asked about his parents and spoke to his son Aarav. For the next few hours, an overjoyed Devanti Devi, Purnam's elderly mother, stood with boxes of sweets at the door of their house. ' Thora munh meetha kar lijiye (have some sweets),' she urged everyone she met. Purnam and Rajni's eight-year-old son pointed to a kite and spool kept on the top of a cupboard in their bedroom and said, 'We flew the kite when papa came during Holi. We will fly it again together. I am waiting for him to come home. ' Shortly after Purnam's release, Rajni received a call from CM Banerjee. Later, the CM told reporters, 'I spoke to Rajni 3-4 times. Our DGP was in constant touch with the BSF DG. We did whatever we could. Day before yesterday I told Rajni that her husband was fine but the modalities of release were taking a little time. I requested for the matter to be taken up in the (DGMO-level) meeting between India and Pakistan, and they did talk about this. His family is happy and so is the entire nation.' Rajni said the CM had expressed her wish to meet Purnam when he returned home. Junior Union minister Sukanta Majumdar thanked PM Modi for securing Purnam's release while Bengal leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari met senior BSF officers in Kolkata to express his gratitude.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Main bol raha hoon': BSF jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw's first call home melts wife's heart
KOLKATA: A little after noon, Rajni's phone rang. "Main bol raha hun (It's me)," said a heavy, hoarse voice. Unable to recognise the caller, Rajni tentatively asked, "Aap PK Sir hain (Are you PK Sir)?" "I couldn't believe it was him. We don't take our husbands' names. I called him PK Sir to confirm it was indeed him," said the happy wife. It was a brief call and Purnam asked about his parents and spoke to his son Aarav. For the next few hours, an overjoyed Devanti Devi, Purnam's elderly mother, stood with boxes of sweets at the door of their house. "Thora munh meetha kar lijiye (have some sweets)," she urged everyone she met. Purnam and Rajni's eight-year-old son pointed to a kite and spool kept on the top of a cupboard in their bedroom and said, "We flew the kite when papa came during Holi. We will fly it again together. I am waiting for him to come home. " Shortly after Purnam's release, Rajni received a call from CM Banerjee. Later, the CM told reporters, "I spoke to Rajni 3-4 times. Our DGP was in constant touch with the BSF DG. We did whatever we could. Day before yesterday I told Rajni that her husband was fine but the modalities of release were taking a little time. I requested for the matter to be taken up in the (DGMO-level) meeting between India and Pakistan, and they did talk about this. His family is happy and so is the entire nation." Rajni said the CM had expressed her wish to meet Purnam when he returned home. Junior Union minister Sukanta Majumdar thanked PM Modi for securing Purnam's release while Bengal leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari met senior BSF officers in Kolkata to express his gratitude. 'Nothing will stop him from serving the country again' "We cannot even imagine what he faced in Pakistan, but nothing will stop him from serving the country again," said 62-year-old Bholanath Shaw, an e-rickshaw driver in Rishra whose youngest son Purnam re-entered India through the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday after spending 22 days in the custody of Pakistan Rangers. On April 23, a day after the Pahalgam terror attack, the BSF jawan had inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan while on operational duty. For over three weeks, Purnam's family members here had swung between hope and despair as the tension between India and Pakistan mounted. Purnam's pregnant wife Rajni even travelled to Ferozepur to seek answers from her husband's seniors in BSF but nothing much materialised. When India launched Operation Sindoor , their hearts sank. "The day attacks on both sides intensified, I started losing hope. The (BSF) Commanding Officer at Kangra assured me of my husband's return but we couldn't be sure. What if the war escalated and continued for a long time? Fear gripped the entire family," recounted Rajni Finally on Wednesday morning, Shaw Sadan erupted in joy and tears when the BSF, in a press note, confirmed that Purnam was back home. "Every citizen of this country prayed for my sindoor and I can't thank them enough," said a tearful Rajni, thanking PM Narendra Modi and CM Mamata Banerjee for their help and support.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Rangers hand over BSF trooper, India lets Pak soldier go home
File photo AMRITSAR/NEW DELHI: A BSF constable held for 22 days in Pakistan after inadvertantly crossing the Punjab border was released Wednesday morning, drawing emotional scenes in his Bengal hometown. Purnam Kumar Shaw , 40, was handed over by Pakistan Rangers to BSF officers at Attari-Wagah border near Amritsar around 10.30am, concluding days of tense diplomatic and military manoeuvring between India and Pakistan amid Operation Sindoor . Shaw's wife Rajni, who is in advanced pregnancy, said: 'Every citizen prayed for my sindoor,' thanking PM Narendra Modi and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. Officials said Shaw, part of BSF's 182 Battalion, was in uniform and carrying his rifle when he crossed into Pakistani territory in Ferozepur on April 23 while on operational duty. 'He was received in accordance with established protocols. He appeared safe and healthy,' said Dr Atul Fulzele, IF of BSF's Punjab frontier. A medical check-up and debriefing followed. Shaw's crossing came a day after the Pahalgam terrorist strike that claimed 26 men, mostly tourists, and heightened tensions across the border. India responded with precision strikes on terrorist and military targets in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor. Pakistani Rangers had released photos showing Shaw blindfolded and disoriented. BSF initially shared an image of Shaw with a beard, later issuing one where he appeared clean-shaven and in fresh clothes. Efforts to secure his release included multiple flag meetings and diplomatic outreach. Sources said a final meeting between BSF and Pakistani Rangers commandants paved the way for Wednesday's handover. BSF attributed Shaw's return to 'consistent efforts through communication channels'. In a parallel and unacknowledged move, a Pakistani soldier who had crossed into Rajasthan on May 4 walked back across Wagah the same morning. In Rishra of Bengal's Hooghly district, Shaw's family broke down in joy. 'We cannot even imagine what he faced, but he will serve the country again,' said his father Bholanath Shaw. His mother Devanti Devi handed out sweets. Shaw's wife recounted the anxiety that gripped the family. 'I ran from pillar to post. I feared war would break out and we'd lose him,' she said. Rajni had even visited BSF officers near the border for updates. CM Banerjee later phoned Rajni and confirmed that talks at DGMO-level had included her husband's case. After BSF's press release confirmed his return, Rajni received a brief call from Shaw. 'Main bol raha hoon,' he said. Unsure at first, she asked, 'Aap PK Sir hain?' before recognising his voice. The couple's young son Aarav looked up at a kite kept on top of a cupboard. 'We flew it during Holi when papa was home. We'll fly it again together,' he said. (Inputs from Rohit Khanna & Falguni Banerjee in Rishra)
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BSF Jawan Purnam Shaw returns home after 22 days; Family thanks PM Modi, Mamata Banerjee
Kolkata: After BSF constable Purnam Kumar Shaw was handed over to India at the Attari border on Wednesday morning, the family thanked PM Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for his return. As news of Shaw's release reached his home in Bengal's Rishra, his family was in a jubilant mood and said they were relieved over Purnam's return after 22 days. Bholenath Shaw, Purnam's father, told ET said he has received an official call from BSF headquarters that his son had been released by Pakistan at 10.30 am on Wednesday. GIF89a����!�,D; Continue to video 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by "I thank all the defence forces, the Indian government , our chief minister and state leaders for his release. My son has come from the enemy's den. He can go and fight for his country. I have no objection," Purnam's father told ET. Purnam's wife Rajni Shaw said: "Modi hai to mumkin hai (it has been possible because of Modi)". PM has kept my sindoor intact." Live Events Rajni has spoken to her husband after his return on video call. "I am very happy. My husband has returned to India safely. He told me he is fine. I have no objection if he goes back to work again," Rajni said. Banerjee expressed her happiness over Purnam's release and said that "the country is happy on Purnam's return". "We had been in touch with BSF Jawan Purnam Shaw's wife Rajni for the last few days and spoke to her 4-5 times. Consistent efforts were made from our end. Our DGP was in constant touch with his BSF counterpart. I told Rajni the day before yesterday that her husband was healthy and doing well. However, the modalities of his release operation would take some was released this morning. I am happy. His family is happy. The entire country is happy..," Banerjee said in Kolkata. Purnam Kumar Shaw (40) hails from Hooghly in West Bengal. Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar spoke to Purnam's father and congratulated him.
