FEROZEPUR, India (Diya TV) — A Border Security Force (BSF) constable was captured by Pakistan Rangers on Wednesday, April 23, after he inadvertently crossed the international border near Ferozepur in Punjab while on duty. The soldier, identified as Constable P.K. Sahu of the 182nd battalion, was accompanying local farmers who were allowed to till land beyond the border fence under BSF supervision.
According to senior BSF officials quoted by ANI, the soldier, dressed in full uniform and carrying his service rifle, reportedly moved ahead to rest in the shade when he strayed into Pakistani territory and was detained. Flag meetings were promptly requested by Indian authorities to secure his safe return. However, Pakistani Rangers did not attend the scheduled meeting on Thursday evening, further escalating diplomatic concerns.
Pakistan has refused to hand over the soldier, identified in some media reports as PK Singh, though BSF sources confirm the detained man is Constable P.K. Sahu, a native of West Bengal. Pakistani media later released images of the soldier blindfolded, drawing strong criticism from Indian officials who accused Islamabad of using the incident for propaganda.
“This kind of behavior is unacceptable, especially at a time when diplomatic channels are already strained,” an Indian official said on condition of anonymity.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of soaring tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. At least 27 people lost their lives in the attack, which was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based terrorist organization.
In response to the Pahalgam attack, India announced a series of retaliatory measures. New Delhi put the Indus Waters Treaty “in abeyance,” downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan, expelled its diplomats, recalled Indian officials from Islamabad, and closed the Attari border. The Jammu and Kashmir Police released sketches of the suspects and announced a ₹20 lakh (about $25,000) reward for information leading to their capture.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a rally in Bihar on April 24, condemned the attack and issued a stern warning. “India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers. Terrorism will not go unpunished,” he declared.
Pakistan has denied any involvement in the Pahalgam attack. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claimed that Islamabad had “nothing to do” with the violence, attributing the incident to domestic opposition against the Indian government. However, Pakistan’s failure to condemn the attack and its release of blindfolded images of the captured jawan have only fueled further outrage in India.
Pakistan also announced retaliatory diplomatic actions and hinted at reconsidering the Simla Agreement, the foundational treaty governing bilateral relations between the two nations.
Despite the rising tensions, Indian officials stress that such inadvertent crossings by personnel patrolling near the fence, especially when escorting farmers to cultivate land near the boundary, have occurred in the past and are typically resolved through flag meetings and cooperation.
“This is not the first such incident, but the context this time makes it more sensitive,” said a retired Indian military official.
