Following ceasefire announcement, wife of BSF jawan in Pakistan custody sees window of opportunity

KOLKATA: Following the ceasefire announcement on Saturday, Rajani Shaw, whose husband, BSF jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw, is in the custody of Pakistan Rangers, expressed hope for his return. "The govt should immediately discuss his release and repatriation to India during the talks with Pakistan," she told TOI on Saturday.Purnam, who was on duty at the Punjab border, mistakenly strayed into Pakistani territory on April 23. He was immediately detained by Pakistan Rangers and has been in their custody since. Although the release was initially discussed at flag meetings between the two countries, talks stopped days before India launched a strike on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. With a tactical war breaking out between the two countries thereafter, Rajani and Purnam's parents were distraught as it meant derailing the efforts to get him back."Purnam has been held in Pakistan for 18 days now. Although initially we were told that he is well, there have been no reports this week. We are extremely worried about his condition and how he is being treated amidst the hostilities between the two countries," she said.Following the ceasefire announcement, Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee posted on social media, demanding immediate action to secure Purnam's release. Shaw is a resident of Rishra within the Serampore Parliamentary constituency which is represented by Banerjee. "We need to get him back immediately," he said. Last week, Rajani travelled to Firozpur with her son and kin to speak to the commanding officer. While he assured her that they were holding talks with Pakistan Rangers over his release, the CO called Rajani on Tuesday to dissuade her from going to Delhi to press for her husband's release with the defence ministry. He assured her there would be some important news within 24 hours. Less than two days later, India struck nine terrorist bases in Pakistan."Neither the BSF officers nor central govt officials, including those from the Home Ministry or PMO, responded to our SOS on Purnam," she said, adding that she attempted to contact BSF's sector office in Firozpur on Saturday but received no response.Rajani has been constantly monitoring TV broadcasts for over a fortnight now, hoping to hear some positive news of her husband. She watched the intensifying warfare with growing trepidation. When foreign secretary Vikram Misri announced the ceasefire on Saturday evening, her hope, which seemed to be ebbing out, was revived. Local supporters, including Rishra Municipality chairman Vijay Sagar Mishra, said: "If the concerned authorities do not take up the matter, we will go to Delhi."