Seeks justice from PM, HM
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 4: A day after being sacked from the service for allegedly concealing his marriage to a Pakistani woman, CRPF trooper Munir Ahmed from Jammu’s Handwal village called the action against him “unfair” and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for justice.
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Addressing media persons here, Munir said he had informed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) well in advance about his plan to marry Meenal Khan, a Pakistani citizen and his maternal cousin.
He said their marriage was arranged by their families and not a result of any online relationship, as claimed by some reports.
“My wife is the daughter of my maternal uncle who had migrated to Pakistan during partition. I informed the CRPF in December 2022 about my plan to marry her and submitted all required documents, including affidavits from my parents, Sarpanch, and DDC member. The headquarters gave a verbal nod in April 2024,” he said.
Munir clarified that the rules do not require a formal No Objection Certificate (NOC) for marriage to a foreign national only that the Government be informed, which he claimed he did.
The dismissed CRPF trooper said the online marriage was held on May 24, 2023, due to his father’s worsening cancer condition.
“We didn’t wait for the visa because my father was very ill, and the force also helped with his treatment,” he said.
He said when Meenal Khan entered India on a short-term visa on February 28, 2024, he and his Pakistani wife applied for a Long-Term Visa (LTV) in March.
“While the local Foreigners Registration Office completed due diligence, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court also stayed the deportation of my wife when all the Pakistani citizens staying illegally in India were deported by the Government,” he said.
Munir said he returned from leave and joined his battalion at Sunderbani on March 25, but was transferred to Bhopal just two days later.
“I was not given the mandatory 15-day joining period. I joined duty in Bhopal on March 29 and submitted all documents, including details of my marriage,” he said.
On being accused of compromising national security, Munir said, “I have served in difficult areas for over nine years. My loyalty to the country cannot be questioned. My family has deep roots in Jammu and never migrated even during Partition.”
He said he learned about his dismissal through the media before receiving the official letter.
“I will challenge my dismissal in court and hope for justice. I again request the Prime Minister and Home Minister to look into my case,” he added.
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