When Rajni Sahu left her home in Hooghly’s Rishra just days ago, her voice trembled with determination. “I will not return until I can bring my husband back,” she had declared.
On Thursday evening, she came back home— but alone. Her husband, Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Purnam Sahu, remains in captivity in Pakistan after allegedly crossing the border by mistake on April 23 while stationed at the Ferozepur sector.
Rajni, who is currently pregnant, has emerged as a symbol of courage and resolve in the face of heart-wrenching uncertainty.
Despite the harrowing circumstances, her return was not marked by visible distress but by a quiet, steadfast faith. “I am satisfied with the assurances I received. I believe my husband will return— safe and unharmed,” she said, her voice resonating with an inner strength only love can forge.
Since the moment the news reached their home, the Sahu family has been gripped by anxiety. Yet Rajni, defying her physical condition and emotional turmoil, took it upon herself to act. On April 28, she left for Pathankot, determined to trace every step of the system that could help secure her husband’s release.
Her journey took her from Chandigarh to the BSF headquarters in Kankada, Himachal Pradesh and finally to Ferozepur, where Purnam had last been posted. Officials she met assured her that Purnam had not committed any intentional breach and that such cases, though rare, often take time to resolve due to bureaucratic delays and ongoing tensions—especially in light of the recent unrest in Kshmir.
“They showed me the flag meeting schedule and confirmed that no harm has come to Purnam. He is safe. No torture has been inflicted. Even in wartime, a soldier is not mistreated,” Rajni said, clinging to the hope that diplomacy and duty will prevail over delay.
The BSF authorities, according to her, are working with full dedication—“100 to 110 percent”—to ensure her husband’s safe return. Top officials, including the Commanding Officer (CO) and Deputy Inspector General (DIG), have been in touch with her, asking for patience and reaffirming their commitment. A flag meeting has already been proposed and the Indian side is signaling for dialogue, but Pakistan’s response remains awaited.
Purnam’s relative, Satya Prakash Gupta, echoed the family’s cautious hope: “We HAVE been told to wait and we are trying. But no one knows how long this wait will last.”
However, Purnam’s father, Bholanath SaHu, expressed deep frustration with the Centre’s silence. “My son is still in Pakistan’s custody. It’s the government’s duty to act. We’ve received no direct update. We are suffocating in uncertainty,” he lamented.
As the Sahu family counts each passing day in restless anticipation, their story underscores not just a diplomatic standoff—but a deeply human ordeal. Behind the politics and protocols is a young woman, carrying new life within her, who waits with unwavering faith for her husband to return home.
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