Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday called for "tangible action" to bring back the BSF jawan, who has been in the custody of Pakistan Rangers since he inadvertently crossed the border while on duty on April 23.
Expressing sorrow over the situation, the CM said both state govt and Trinamool Congress were in touch with family of Purnam Kumar Shaw in Rishra.
"This is a very sad matter. Our party senior Kalyan Banerjee is in contact with Shaw's family, and state govt is also maintaining communication with them. I want my brother from Rishra to be brought back to the country as quickly as possible," she told reporters.
When asked about the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed, Banerjee stated that Trinamool would support whatever decision Centre took.
"I will not make any comments regarding this (the attack). What is going on in the country concerns both internal and external security. We have clearly said that our party supports govt. But we do not believe in divide-and-rule politics," the CM said before leaving for Murshidabad.
Shaw's wife Rajani said she welcomed Banerjee's statement. "Since April 23, we have been spending sleepless nights waiting patiently for my husband's return. But there is still no information," she told TOI.
Rajani had earlier said she would travel to Delhi on Tuesday to meet BSF officers there if she did not hear anything concrete about her husband's release by then.
Rajani, who returned to Kolkata on Thursday from Pathankot where she went to meet her husband's commanding officer, said her family was anxious about Purnam's condition in detention, which has stretched to over 10 days now.
On visiting Delhi, she said: "Whatever I will do, I will confirm on Tuesday."
(With inputs from agencies)