New Delhi: Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Purnam Kumar Sau, who was captured by Pakistani troops last month, was finally released on Wednesday (May 14).Sau, who spent 21 days in the custody of Pakistani authorities since his capture on April 23, was handed over to Indian authorities at around 10:30 am on Wednesday at the Attari border in Amritsar, Punjab, reported Business Standard.In exchange, India also handed over a Pakistan Rangers trooper who was held in custody for nearly two weeks.“Today BSF Jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw, who had been in the custody of Pakistan Rangers since 23 April 2025, was handed over to India at about 1030 hours through the Joint Check Post Attari, Amritsar. The handover was conducted peacefully and in accordance with established protocols,” said the BSF in a statement.The BSF statement added Sau’s repatriation was possible as a result of the consistent efforts of BSF through regular flag meetings with Pakistan Rangers and through other communication channels.Sau, posted with the 24th Battalion of the BSF in Firozpur, was deployed along the Indo-Pak border on April 23, just a day after 26 Indian tourists were killed in a cross-border terror strike in Pahalgam.While assisting local farmers in evacuating a vulnerable zone, Sau allegedly crossed the international boundary inadvertently. Pakistani forces reportedly detained him and later released a photograph showing him blindfolded, confirming fears of his capture.The Wire had earlier reported that the family members of Sau, residents of West Bengal’s Rishra were devastated after he was captured and appealed to the Indian government to secure his release.