Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw, who had been in Pakistan Rangers' custody since April 23, 2025, was returned to India on May 14 at the Attari border in Amritsar. Shaw had inadvertently crossed the international border in Punjab's Ferozepur district while on duty and was detained by Pakistani forces. His return followed diplomatic efforts and regular flag meetings between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers, and the handover was conducted peacefully, adhering to established protocols.
“We are very happy today. We thank the central government and the BSF authorities for their efforts in safely bringing him back. The past two weeks have been filled with sleepless nights and uncertainty for us. We were constantly worried about his well-being,” a family member of Shaw said, speaking to reporters.
“We are now eagerly waiting to speak to him and see him in person. Our prayers have finally been answered,” the family member added.
In a reciprocal move, India also released a Pakistani Rangers trooper who had been in Indian custody for nearly two weeks after being apprehended near the international border in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district. This exchange took place amid a period of heightened tension between the two countries, following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam and India's subsequent Operation Sindoor. The handover of personnel came just days after both nations announced a ceasefire and agreed to halt all military actions across the border.