BSF jawan was mentally tortured in Pakistani custody

The Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw was kept blindfolded, deprived of sleep and verbally abused by Pakistani authorities. He also wasn't allowed to brush his teeth. While he was not subjected to physical torture, he was questioned on BSF deployments along the border, sources said.

Shaw, handed over to Indian authorities by Pakistan, spent a harrowing 21 days in their custody after he was arrested on April 23 along the International Border in Punjab. He was arrested by the Pakistan Rangers after he mistakenly crossed over to Pakistani territory during duty in the Ferozepur sector.

Throughout his captivity, Shaw, who belongs to the 24th BSF battalion, was taken to three undisclosed locations in Pakistan. One of the locations was near an airbase where he could hear the sounds of aircraft. The jawan was mostly kept blindfolded. In one location, he was put in a jail cell.

Sources said Pakistani officials, dressed in civilian clothes, questioned Shaw about BSF deployments along the border and sought details about senior officers posted at the International Border. He was also pressed to give the contact details, but as Shaw was not carrying a mobile phone at the time of his capture, as per BSF protocol, he could not provide the numbers.

After the BSF jawan was handed over to Indian authorities at the Attari-Wagah border, Shaw was allowed to speak to his family. He underwent a formal debriefing and is reported to be in a stable physical and mental condition. As per protocol, the clothes he wore while in Pakistani custody were inspected and discarded.

PK Shaw, who is from West Bengal's Hooghly district, was part of the BSF's 'Kisan Guard' that is deployed for the protection of Indian farmers. His release comes days after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire following three days of armed hostilities across the LoC.