BSF Jawan in Pakistan Returned to India: Nearly three weeks after he was detained by the Pakistan Rangers after he accidentally crossed the international border in Punjab’s Ferozepur district, Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Poornam Kumar Shaw was handed over to India at around 10.30 am on Wednesday. Shaw had been in the custody of the Pakistan Rangers since April 23.

Shaw was brought back to India through the Joint Check Post at Attari in Amritsar.

“The handover was conducted peacefully and in accordance with established protocols,” the BSF said in a statement. “With the consistent efforts of BSF through regular flag meetings with Pakistan Rangers and through other communication channels, the repatriation…has become possible,” it added.

Shaw was in Pakistan’s custody for 21 days. A resident of West Bengal, he accidentally crossed the India-Pakistan international border during a patrol on April 23, a day after the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir that escalated border tensions. The incident occurred near the Ferozepur sector in Punjab, where the 73rd battalion of the BSF is deployed.

As soon as he crossed the border, the Pakistani Rangers took him into custody for questioning. Immediately after he went missing, the BSF contacted the Pakistan Rangers, and it was confirmed that he was in Pakistan’s custody.

Following Shaw’s detention, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had appealed to the Centre to bring him back immediately. “We want him to be brought back as early as possible,” Banerjee had said then.