BSF jawan reveals sleep deprivation, blindfolding, verbal abuse during 21 days in Pakistani custody

BSF jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw held 21 days by Pakistan blindfolded deprived of sleep verbally abused but not tortured
Shaw questioned about BSF deployments and senior officers but could not share contact details due to no mobile phone
Released at Attari border exchanged for Pakistani Ranger after ceasefire following India’s Operation Sindoor against terrorist camps

Purnam Kumar Shaw, a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan from Hooghly district, West Bengal, was released and handed over to Indian authorities on May 14 after spending 21 days in Pakistani custody. He was detained on April 23 by the Pakistan Rangers after accidentally crossing the International Border during duty in the Ferozepur sector of Punjab. Shaw belongs to the 24th BSF battalion and is part of the BSF’s 'Kisan Guard,' deployed for the protection of Indian farmers.

During his captivity, Shaw was taken to three undisclosed locations in Pakistan, including one near an airbase where he reportedly heard aircraft noises. Throughout this period, he was mostly kept blindfolded and was once placed in a jail cell. He was deprived of sleep and was not allowed to brush his teeth, according to sources. Shaw was verbally abused but was not subjected to physical torture.

Pakistani officials, dressed in civilian clothes, interrogated Shaw about BSF deployments along the International Border. They questioned him about senior officers and sought contact details. However, Shaw was unable to provide phone numbers as he was not carrying a mobile phone at the time of his detention, in accordance with BSF protocol.

After being released at the Attari-Wagah border, Shaw was allowed to speak to his family. He underwent a formal debriefing and was reported to be in stable physical and mental condition. The clothes he wore during captivity were inspected and discarded as per established procedures. Shaw’s wife, who is pregnant, and their seven-year-old son had traveled to Chandigarh during his detention.

His release came in exchange for a Pakistani Ranger apprehended by the BSF in Rajasthan’s Sriganganagar sector along the International Border. This exchange followed a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan after recent cross-border hostilities related to India’s 'Operation Sindoor,' which targeted terrorist camps linked to groups Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

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