Families of two Bengal soldiers: One upholds unity after tragic loss, other holds on to hope

Following the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of three tourists from West Bengal, the sorrow in the state has deepened with two more distressing developments. An Indian Army soldier from Nadia district was martyred during an operation, while a BSF officer from Hooghly district has been captured by Pakistani forces.

 

Havildar Jhantu Ali Shaikh of the elite 6 PARA Special Forces was shot during a joint counter-terror operation conducted by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police in Udhampur. He later succumbed to his injuries. A resident of Patharghata village in Nadia’s Krishnanagar, Jhantu leaves behind his wife and two children, who were in Agra when they received the devastating news of his death on Thursday.

 

Jhantu, the youngest of three brothers, followed a proud tradition of service. His elder brother also serves in the Indian Army. His parents, Sabur Ali and Akali Bibi, still live in their village home, where grief now hangs heavy.

 

Despite their profound loss, the family is sending a powerful message of unity. Amid rising communal tension over the Pahalgam attack, where tourists were targeted based on their religion, one of Jhantu’s cousins told local media, “The terrorists targeted Hindu tourists. But my brother, a Muslim, who killed him? Terrorism has no religion.”

 

Jhantu’s father echoed these sentiments. Highlighting how Muslims are frequently questioned about their loyalty, he said, “Whenever the India-Pakistan issue arises, we’re often asked, ‘Whose side are you on?’ This time, my son gave that answer with his own blood.”

 

In Hooghly’s Rishra, on the other hand, the Shaw family is gripped by hope and anxiety. Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw of the Border Security Force (BSF) has been captured by the Pakistan Rangers after he accidentally crossed the border in Punjab’s Ferozepur district.

 

According to reports, Purnam had been escorting farmers near the border on Wednesday. Exhausted during duty, he reportedly fell asleep under a tree, without realising that he had entered the Pakistani territory.

 

With the Rangers yet to release him, the Purnam’s family is deeply worried. His wife and his parents have made a heartfelt appeal to the Union government to take all necessary steps to secure his release from Pakistani custody.

 

Rajani Shaw, Purnam’s wife, said, “On Wednesday night, one of Purnam’s friends informed me that he has been captured by the Pakistan Rangers while on duty.” The last time she had spoken to his husband was on Tuesday night.

India