BSF Jawan Returned by Pakistan after Accidental Border Crossing
Border Security Force (BSF) Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw, who had been in the custody of Pakistan Rangers since April 23rd, was handed back to Indian authorities this morning, Wednesday, May 14th. The peaceful handover occurred approximately 20 days after his detention, following established protocols between the two nations.
Details of Return and Initial Incident
The return of Constable Shaw took place around 10:30 AM at the Joint Check Post in Attari, Amritsar. In an official statement, the BSF confirmed, "Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw has been taken back from Pakistan by the BSF at the Attari-Wagha border." He is currently undergoing debriefing by Indian security officials.
Constable Shaw, of the BSF's 182nd Battalion, was on operational duty near the border fence in the Ferozepur sector of Punjab on April 23rd, around 11:50 AM. Reports indicate that while in uniform and carrying his service rifle, he unknowingly crossed into Pakistani territory when he moved towards a shaded area to rest, leading to his apprehension by Pakistan Rangers.
Following his detention, officials from both the Indian Army and Pakistan Rangers initiated a flag meeting to discuss and resolve the matter, culminating in the jawan's safe release and return. The BSF noted that Shaw had "inadvertently crossed over to Pakistani territory while on operational duty." This incident of the jawan accidentally crossing the border occurred a day after the April 22nd terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Safe return of Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw marks a positive resolution to an unintentional border crossing incident. The established communication channels and protocols between the border guarding forces of India and Pakistan facilitated this, particularly during the period of geopolitical regional sensitivity.
