Purnam Kumar Shaw, the BSF jawan who returned to India on Wednesday after being held captive in Pakistan for 21 days, was sleep-deprived and mentally drained after facing nightly interrogations. Shaw, who was handed over at the Attari-Wagah border, spoke to his wife Rajani soon after his release and revealed the harsh conditions he endured during his detention.
“He wasn’t allowed to sleep properly and was questioned almost every night about the deployment of BSF personnel and officers along the border,” Rajani told TOI. She added that although he wasn’t physically tortured, Shaw sounded extremely tired and broken. “He was treated more like a spy than a soldier,” she said.
Shaw also shared that he was moved between three different locations, and at least one of them appeared to be near an airbase due to frequent aircraft sounds. Despite receiving regular meals, he wasn’t allowed to brush his teeth, adding to his discomfort.
The jawan had inadvertently crossed the border while on duty in Punjab’s Ferozepur sector on April 23, a day after the terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. His unexpected disappearance caused weeks of anxiety for his family back in Rishra, West Bengal.
Now safely back in India, Shaw has undergone medical check-ups and debriefing. His wife remains proud of his commitment to service. “For 17 years, he has served the nation, and he will continue to do so. We are proud of him,” Rajani said, adding that she hopes to meet him soon in Pathankot if he’s not granted leave.