Purnam Kumar Shaw, the Border Security Force jawan who was recently released by Pakistani forces, said he faced inhumane treatment and was interrogated like a spy during his three weeks in Pakistan's custody.
Both India and Pakistan on Wednesday exchanged each other's border force personnel who had been apprehended along the International Borders (IB) during the recent tensions between the two countries, officials said.
Purnam Shaw, who was accompanying a group of local farmers in the Ferozepur sector, crossed the border inadvertently on April 23. He was released recently after the BSF consistently raised the issue of his custody during flag meetings with their Pakistani counterparts, Hindustan Times reported.
India also released a Pakistani ranger, identified as Muhammadullah, durign the exchange. According to officials, the Pakistani ranger was apprehended by the BSF from the Rajasthan border on May 3.
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Narrating the ill treatment he reportedly faced in Pakistan's custody to his pregnant wife Rajani, Shaw reportedly said he was treated like a spy and was not allowed to brush his teeth. Though Shaw said he was not physically tortured by Pakistani forces, he was interrogated every night by Pakistani officials.
During his three-week custody, Shaw was reportedly shifted to three locations. One of the locations seemed like an air base as he heard sounds of aircraft movement. Quoting Shaw's wife, Hindustan Times reported that her husband was served food regularly but was not allowed to brush his teeth. “When he spoke, he sounded extremely tired and said he was sleep-deprived,” the publication reported quoting Rajani.
