Kolkata, India: Pregnant Wife of BSF Jawan Held in Pakistan to Visit Punjab, Appeals for His Safe Return “I don’t know when my husband will be back,” says Rajani Shaw as diplomatic tensions rise.
Jawan Detained After Inadvertent Border Crossing
Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw, a 40-year-old Border Security Force (BSF) personnel from Hooghly, West Bengal, was apprehended by Pakistan Rangers on Wednesday. The jawan accidentally crossed the international border near Punjab’s Ferozepur district while guiding farmers — a regular part of his duty.
His detention comes amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, further straining diplomatic ties between the two nations.
Family in Distress as Days pass without any Update
Speaking on Saturday, Shaw’s pregnant wife, Rajani Shaw, expressed her deep concern over the lack of concrete information about her husband’s condition.
“It has been four days since Pakistani forces captured him. We are in touch with BSF officials, but all they say is that meetings are being held. There is no positive news. I don’t know when my husband will return,” she said, holding back tears.
Rajani, expecting the couple’s second child, revealed that the uncertainty is taking a heavy toll on the family, which also includes their seven-year-old child.
Personal Appeal to Authorities Planned
Determined to bring her husband back, Rajani has decided to personally travel to Pathankot, Punjab, to meet BSF officials and urge them to intensify efforts for his release.
“I will appeal to everyone — the BSF officers, the Prime Minister, and the President. I am willing to knock on every door to ensure my husband’s safe return,” she said, adding that she would leave for Pathankot on Sunday.
Rajani last spoke to her husband on Tuesday, just a day before he was detained. Friends of Shaw informed her that he was ‘kidnapped’ while on duty, highlighting the vulnerability of soldiers working near volatile borders.
Political Support and Growing Concerns
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP from Serampore, Kalyan Banerjee, has taken up the matter and confirmed he has contacted BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chaudhary regarding Shaw’s safe return.
Meanwhile, the family’s anxiety has been compounded by diplomatic developments after the Pahalgam terror attack, with India taking strong measures against Pakistan for alleged support of cross-border terrorism. Concerns have also been raised after unsettling gestures from a Pakistani diplomat in London, adding to fears for Shaw’s safety.
A Family’s Fight Amid a Diplomatic Storm
While diplomatic channels work behind the scenes, Rajani Shaw’s emotional journey to Punjab stands as a stark reminder of the human cost behind international conflicts. As her husband’s fate remains uncertain across the border, her voice grows louder, symbolizing the resilience and desperation of countless families waiting for their loved ones to return.
