'Not allowed to sleep, grilled every night': BSF jawan Purnam Shaw recalls 21-day ordeal in Pakistani custody

BSF jawan Purnam Shah who was released by Pakistan after keeping him in captivity for 21 days said that he was kept blindfolded, wasn't allowed to sleep and verbally abused, according to The Times of India.

He was captured by the Pakistani authorities after he inadvertently crossed the International border in Punjab on April 23, a day after the horrific Pahalgam terror attack which claimed lives of 26 civilians.

The sources said that while he did not undergo physical torture, he was interrogated on BSF deployment along the border and and sought details about senior officers posted at the International Border.

Shaw told his wife Rajani that he felt mentally drained after being interrogated every night. Rajani said he felt he was treated as a spy rather than a paramilitary jawan guarding the border.

Additionally, he was taken to three undisclosed locations in Pakistan during his captivity, with one near an airbase where he could hear the sounds of aircraft.

He was mostly kept blindfolded during these movements and in one location, he was put in a jail cell.

He was also asked to share the contact details. However he was unable to provide that as he was not carrying a mobile phone at the time of his capture, as per BSF protocol.

Shaw was allowed to speak to his family after he was handed over to Indian authorities at the Attari-Wagah border.

He then went through a formal debriefing and is reported to be in a stable physical and mental condition.

His release comes days after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire following three days of armed hostilities across the LoC post India's 'Operation Sindoor', where it destroyed nine terrorist camps.