Hooghly BSF jawan’s wife to fly to Punjab border today
Times of India | 28 April 2025
123 Rishra: A 10-member team of senior BSF officers on Sunday visited the home of Purnam Kumar Shaw, the BSF jawan in custody of Pakistan Rangers. The visit came even as his wife, Rajani, postponed her departure for the international border in Punjab's Ferozepur by a day to Monday, although she is likely to reach her destination sooner, as she is flying.
Rajani, who is pregnant, will take a flight from Kolkata to Pathankot — a three-hour journey — from where it's a four-hour drive to Ferozepur. Her previous plan, of taking a train, via Pathankot, would have meant a three-day journey at least.
Her decision to travel was in spite of initial dissuasion from BSF, considering her pregnancy and because Purnam's release was being discussed with Pakistan.
Rajani had said she would visit Ferozepur, demanding answers about her husband, and would even go to Delhi to seek those answers from the PMO, if needed.
On Sunday, BSF's assurances to the Shaw family about Purnam being "unharmed", and hopes of his early return, failed to convince Rajani, who said she was dissatisfied at the lack of perceived progress. BSF had asked her to wait till Monday for updates on her husband.
Despite flag meetings, Purnam — who was caught after inadvertently crossing the border on Wednesday — continues to be in Pakistan Rangers' custody.
On Sunday morning, 10 officers from BSF's Kalyani camp reached Shaw Sadan in Rishra, Hooghly. They spoke to family members at length and assured them of help. The officers also told the family members that they were expecting an update on Purnam by Monday. "They said the issue was being discussed at the highest level. They also claimed that Purnam was unharmed. While they asked us to remain calm at this hour, they were hopeful of my son's return," said Bholanath Shaw, Purnam's father.
Rajani expressed disappointment at any lack of visible progress. "We are happy that they took time out to visit our home," she said. "They also said that he is like a brother to them and will be brought back to the country as soon as possible. While there are flag meetings between officers of the two countries, we don't see anything happening on the ground."
Confirming her decision to take a flight on Monday, she said: "Everyone is trying, and I cannot sit idle at home. I want to see if anything can be done. I will reach the Prime Minister's office in New Delhi and seek his appointment if I fail to get any assurance."
A BSF officer said the force's officers was in constant touch with the family. "A team of our officers visited their home this morning as an expression of our solidarity and to provide some solace to the family. We told the family that we were doing everything possible in our capacity," he added.