Five days after Border Security Force (BSF) constable Purnam Kumar Shaw, 40, was taken into custody by Pakistan Rangers, after he accidentally crossed the international border in Punjab’s Ferozepur district, where he was deployed with the 24th Battalion, the BSF officials met with his family in Rishra, Hooghly, on Sunday morning, offering assurances that they are working diligently to secure his release.

“Today, BSF officials came to our house. We spoke to them about our son. They only said, ‘We are trying, we will bring him back as soon as possible.’ We have some hope after their arrival today,” Purnam’s father, Bholanath Shaw said.

“BSF officials have said, ‘Be strong, he will return home, he is in good health.’ However, they could not give any assurance about how soon it will be possible,” the father added.

Purnam’s wife and other family members are scheduled to depart for Pathankot on Monday. They will take a 1 pm flight to Chandigarh and then proceed to the BSF camp in Pathankot.

“We will leave for Chandigarh tomorrow by a flight at 1 pm. From there we will go to Pathankot,” Purnam’s wife, Rajani Shaw said. “If we don’t see any hope there, then we will go to Delhi from there. We will meet the Prime Minister,” she added.

“BSF officials came to the house today,” Rajani said, adding, “They said they will bring him home very soon. After they came, we got some hope. Now it seems like some good news will come. They said they are making every effort to bring him back.”

BSF officials have reportedly held flag meetings with Pakistan Rangers at the Pathankot border in an attempt to secure Purnam’s release.