Agencies | May 3, 2025 | Jammu : In a significant action citing national security concerns, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Saturday dismissed Constable (GD) Munir Ahmed of the 41st Battalion for concealing his marriage to a Pakistani national and knowingly sheltering her beyond the validity of her visa. The CRPF, in an official statement, said the constable’s conduct was found in “violation of service norms and detrimental to national security.”
The matter came to light amid heightened tensions and administrative tightening following the recent Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. The government had initiated a review and revocation of visas issued to Pakistani nationals in India as a precautionary measure.
Munir Ahmed had initially sought permission in 2023 from the CRPF to marry Minal Khan, a resident of Sialkot, Pakistan. However, before any departmental clearance was granted, he proceeded with the marriage on May 24, 2024. The ceremony was conducted via video conferencing by clerics based in India and Pakistan.
Minal Khan had entered India on a short-term visiting visa and later applied for a long-term stay. Her application had received positive recommendations and was under process with the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, amid the post-attack crackdown, her visa was rendered invalid and she was directed to leave India.
On April 29, 2025, Minal was escorted by Jammu and Kashmir Police to the Attari-Wagah border for deportation. But in a last-minute turn of events, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court granted her interim relief from deportation on April 30. Her legal representative, Advocate Ankush Sharma, confirmed that she was en route to the border when informed about the court’s decision and was subsequently brought back to Jammu.
“Minal Khan had appeared for a long-term visa interview, and the recommendation was favorable,” said Sharma. “However, due to the unfortunate attack and the administrative response, she was abruptly sent for deportation. The High Court’s interim relief has given the couple some respite.”
Minal Khan, in her brief remarks to the media, urged for compassion and unity. “We should be allowed to live with our family,” she said, while firmly condemning the Pahalgam killings. “Those who committed such brutalities must be punished severely.”
CRPF sources confirmed that Munir Ahmed was transferred out of the sensitive Jammu and Kashmir zone to Bhopal just a day prior to his dismissal. Authorities maintain that such undisclosed relationships with foreign nationals, particularly from countries with security sensitivities, cannot be tolerated within the ranks of a force tasked with national duty.
The situation remains under review, with legal proceedings ongoing regarding Minal Khan’s visa status and the couple’s future in India uncertain
