A family in Pune, whose member is a Kargil war veteran, has claimed they were harassed by nearly 80 people allegedly linked to a Hindutva outfit. The group allegedly barged into their house late at night and demanded proof of Indian citizenship, accusing them of being Bangladeshis.
As per a PTI report, the incident reportedly took place just after midnight on Saturday in the Chandannagar area. The family said that even though some policemen in plain clothes were present, they did nothing to stop the group.
Irshad Shaikh (48), a resident of Chandannagar, said his elder brother Hakimuddin Shaikh, who now lives in Uttar Pradesh, served in the Indian Army and fought in the 1999 Kargil war. He retired as a havildar from the Engineers Regiment in 2000.
Irshad, who lives in Pune with two of his brothers and their children, said,
“At midnight, around 80 people started banging on our door. When we opened it, some barged in and demanded to see our Aadhaar cards. Even after showing our documents, they said they were fake and forced the women and children to show theirs too.”
Despite explaining that their family had lived in Pune for over 60 years, and that three members of the family had served in the Army, the group reportedly continued hurling abuses and accused them of being illegal immigrants.
Irshad added that the group chanted “Jai Shree Ram” and tried to drag family members to the police station. Two men in plain clothes, who said they were police officers, stood by silently during the entire episode, according to Irshad.
At the police station, the family was reportedly made to wait for two hours.
“The woman police inspector took our papers and told us to return the next day. She warned that if we didn’t, we would be labelled Bangladeshi nationals,” Irshad said.
The next day, the family returned to the station.
“We were told not to file a complaint and to stay quiet. Now the police are trying to claim no one entered our house that night,” he added.
Irshad said their documents were completely valid.
“If there was any problem, they would have acted. Now they’re asking us to keep quiet,” he claimed.
He mentioned that many of their relatives had served the nation.
“My uncle was injured in the 1971 war and received an award for bravery. Another uncle fought alongside Abdul Hameed in the 1965 war,” he said.
Hakimuddin Shaikh, who fought in Kargil and now lives in Uttar Pradesh, also confirmed the family’s long-standing ties to Pune.
“My uncle Mohammad Salim joined the Indian Army from Pune. What happened to my family was wrong. If needed, I will personally speak to the police,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4) Somay Munde denied that any large group had barged into the house.
“Some police officials went to the house to verify documents under a city-wide drive against illegal Bangladeshi nationals. Since it was night, only some men were asked to come to the police station. No women were brought. The documents seemed fine,” he said.
He also stated that the police had video footage of the inquiry.
Rahul Dambale, president of the National Conference for Minority, said the Hindutva group attempted to intimidate the family.
“We have demanded an FIR and will meet Pune’s Commissioner of Police to seek strict action,” he said.
The family continues to seek justice and clarity, as they believe they were unfairly targeted despite their deep roots and service to the country.
Inputs from PTI
As per a PTI report, the incident reportedly took place just after midnight on Saturday in the Chandannagar area. The family said that even though some policemen in plain clothes were present, they did nothing to stop the group.
Irshad Shaikh (48), a resident of Chandannagar, said his elder brother Hakimuddin Shaikh, who now lives in Uttar Pradesh, served in the Indian Army and fought in the 1999 Kargil war. He retired as a havildar from the Engineers Regiment in 2000.
Irshad, who lives in Pune with two of his brothers and their children, said,
“At midnight, around 80 people started banging on our door. When we opened it, some barged in and demanded to see our Aadhaar cards. Even after showing our documents, they said they were fake and forced the women and children to show theirs too.”
Despite explaining that their family had lived in Pune for over 60 years, and that three members of the family had served in the Army, the group reportedly continued hurling abuses and accused them of being illegal immigrants.
Irshad added that the group chanted “Jai Shree Ram” and tried to drag family members to the police station. Two men in plain clothes, who said they were police officers, stood by silently during the entire episode, according to Irshad.
At the police station, the family was reportedly made to wait for two hours.
“The woman police inspector took our papers and told us to return the next day. She warned that if we didn’t, we would be labelled Bangladeshi nationals,” Irshad said.
The next day, the family returned to the station.
“We were told not to file a complaint and to stay quiet. Now the police are trying to claim no one entered our house that night,” he added.
Irshad said their documents were completely valid.
“If there was any problem, they would have acted. Now they’re asking us to keep quiet,” he claimed.
He mentioned that many of their relatives had served the nation.
“My uncle was injured in the 1971 war and received an award for bravery. Another uncle fought alongside Abdul Hameed in the 1965 war,” he said.
Hakimuddin Shaikh, who fought in Kargil and now lives in Uttar Pradesh, also confirmed the family’s long-standing ties to Pune.
“My uncle Mohammad Salim joined the Indian Army from Pune. What happened to my family was wrong. If needed, I will personally speak to the police,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4) Somay Munde denied that any large group had barged into the house.
“Some police officials went to the house to verify documents under a city-wide drive against illegal Bangladeshi nationals. Since it was night, only some men were asked to come to the police station. No women were brought. The documents seemed fine,” he said.
He also stated that the police had video footage of the inquiry.
Rahul Dambale, president of the National Conference for Minority, said the Hindutva group attempted to intimidate the family.
“We have demanded an FIR and will meet Pune’s Commissioner of Police to seek strict action,” he said.
The family continues to seek justice and clarity, as they believe they were unfairly targeted despite their deep roots and service to the country.
Inputs from PTI
