BSF jawan, detained by Pak, is from Hooghly's Rishra; Family waits for safe return

Tension and tears flood the home of BSF jawan Purnam Kumar Sau in Hooghly's Rishra, after he was detained by the Pakistan Rangers at the Pathankot border. While diplomatic and military channels between India and Pakistan are open through a flag meeting, Purnam's family is living in constant fear and emotional anguish.

The incident unfolded in the backdrop of a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam last Tuesday, which killed 26 tourists and escalated Indo-Pak tensions. Amid this, Purnam—posted at the Pathankot sector—reportedly felt unwell while on duty and unknowingly crossed over into the Pakistani side while seeking shade. He was promptly apprehended by the Pakistan Rangers, sparking a new wave of concern.

Back in West Bengal, the mood is grim in the Harishaba locality of Rishra, Ward No. 13, where Purnam’s family resides. His wife Rajni and their seven-year-old son are heartbroken. Elderly parents and grandfather sit in silence as the news trickles in, with no confirmation of his release yet. “We spoke just the night before. We even talked about the Pahalgam attack,” Rajni shared through tears. She added that the next morning, a fellow soldier informed her of the shocking arrest.

Purnam’s mother, Devanti Devi, has been inconsolable. “I just want my son back alive and well,” she sobbed. His father, Bholanath Sau, has publicly appealed to the Indian government to “take all steps necessary” to bring his son home. According to family members, after the arrest, they tried calling his phone. Initially, it rang unanswered. Now, it is switched off.