Homecoming: Hundreds had gathered at the Howrah railway station to receive P.K. Shaw on May 23 afternoon.
| Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI

Purnam Kumar Shaw, the Border Security Force (BSF) jawan who was repatriated to India on May 14 after spending over 20 days in the custody of Pakistan Rangers, returned to his home in West Bengal on Friday (May 23, 2025).

Hundreds of people, including members of the his family who had gathered at the Howrah railway station, cheered and waved the Tricolour as he alighted from a train in the afternoon.

Many jostled to get a glimpse of Mr. Shaw, who was returning home exactly a month after his detention.

The jawan from BSF’s 24th Battalion was detained by Pakistani forces on April 23, a day after the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead. He had inadvertently strayed across the international border and entered the neighbouring country’s territory while on duty in Ferozepur, Punjab.

“It is all because of your blessings and good wishes that I have been able to come back,” Mr. Shaw told mediapersons. He was escorted out of the station by police personnel.

“This is like a second life for me,” he told reporters after meeting his family members and pregnant wife, Rajni, who had been running a campaign to push for his release.

The jawan’s house in Hooghly’s Rishra town was decked up for a grand welcome while the neighbourhood was full of banners and posters extolling his bravery.

The family offered prayers, following which Mr. Shaw got a chance to relish his favourite delicacies.

‘Looking forward to baby’

“Entire Rishra is decorated. It is like Deepavali for us, and Purnam, like Lord Ram, who is coming back after vanvaas (exile),” said Ms. Rajni, adding that she wishes to forget her husband’s detention as a horrible dream and move on with planning the birth of their child.