Inside Pakistan Custody: How a BSF Jawan Endured Sleep Deprivation and No Relief

Purnam Kumar Shaw, a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan recently freed by Pakistan, endured a harrowing three weeks in captivity after unintentionally crossing the border.

Purnam Kumar Shaw, the Border Security Force (BSF) jawan recently released by Pakistan, spent a distressing three weeks in captivity across the border. Image courtesy: News18

According to the Times of India, Shaw had crossed into Pakistan from Punjab while seeking shade beneath a tree and was detained by Pakistani Rangers on April 23, just a day after the terror attack in Pahalgam.

With tensions already high between the two nations, efforts to secure his release proved difficult. Numerous negotiation rounds were held between Indian and Pakistani officials, with the situation remaining uncertain for several days.

A breakthrough occurred on May 10, when both countries agreed to temporarily halt military operations along the International Border and the Line of Control. Four days later, Shaw was released and safely returned to India on Wednesday, bringing great relief to his family.

Upon his return, Shaw contacted his family to recount the ordeal he had faced while in custody.

‘Treated like a spy, subjected to intense interrogations’

Shaw told his wife Rajani that although he was not physically harmed, he endured severe mental stress during his detention. He was reportedly denied basic necessities such as bathroom access and sleep, alongside other harsh treatments.

“He was given food regularly, but was not allowed to brush his teeth. He sounded exhausted and sleep-deprived when he spoke,” Rajani told The Times of India.

During the 21 days in captivity, Shaw, 40, said he was treated more like a suspected spy than a BSF soldier. He was moved through three undisclosed locations — one believed to be near an airbase due to aircraft noise — and at one point, held in a jail cell. Throughout his transfers, he was mostly blindfolded.

Government sources cited by India Today revealed that Pakistani officials, in civilian attire, interrogated Shaw repeatedly. They pressed him for information about BSF deployments on the border and details of senior officers stationed there. Shaw was also asked for contact numbers, but, following BSF protocol, he was not carrying a mobile phone and could not provide any.

Originally from Hooghly district in West Bengal, Shaw serves with the BSF’s 24th Battalion. He had recently been posted to the Ferozepur sector in Punjab, which borders Pakistan. He was escorting farmers near the border when he accidentally crossed into Pakistani territory while seeking shelter.

The BSF’s Punjab Frontier is tasked with securing a 553-km stretch of the India-Pakistan border, including 518 km of land boundary and 33 km along rivers and waterways.

After his release, Shaw underwent a formal debriefing and is reportedly in stable physical and mental condition. Following protocol, the clothes he wore in custody were examined and discarded.

Return delayed by worsening Indo-Pak tensions

BSF sources told The Times of India that under usual circumstances, Shaw would have been released either the same day or the next day after crossing the border. However, rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, complicated matters. The strained atmosphere delayed repatriation talks and flag meetings.

Whenever Indian officials pressed for Shaw’s return, Pakistani authorities responded that they were “awaiting orders from higher-ups.”

Back home, the uncertainty deeply distressed Shaw’s family, who feared the diplomatic process might fail altogether. Rajani, who is currently pregnant, traveled to Ferozepur with their young son and other relatives to meet Shaw’s commanding officer. Though reassured that talks were underway, the situation worsened after India launched air strikes on terror camps across the border under Operation Sindoor.

Throughout this tense period, Rajani stayed glued to news updates, hoping for good news.

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee, representing Serampore — which includes Shaw’s hometown of Rishra — also publicly called for urgent action to bring Shaw home, stating, “We need to get him back immediately.”

Finally, on May 14, Shaw was returned to India via the Attari-Wagah border, ending his 21-day ordeal.

After his return, Rajani expressed gratitude toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for their efforts in securing Shaw’s release.

Despite all he endured, Shaw’s family remains proud of his dedication. They firmly believe he should continue serving the country.

“I want him to keep working for the nation. He will go back to protect our country,” said his father, Bholanath Shaw.

(Source: First Post, News18, Hindustan Times)