The incident took place in the Chandannagar area of the city on Saturday around midnight, the family claimed, adding that some police personnel in plain clothes were also present at that time but they remained mute spectators
The soldier retired as a havildar from the Engineers Regiment a year after the Kargil War. Representational pic
The family members of a 1999 Kargil War veteran in Pune have alleged that a group of around 80 people affiliated to a outfit barged into their house and demanded a proof of their Indian citizenship, accusing them of being Bangladeshis.
The incident took place in the Chandannagar area of the city on Saturday around midnight, the family claimed, adding that some police personnel in plain clothes were also present at that time but they remained mute spectators.
Irshad Shaikh (48) said his elder brother Hakimuddin, who now stays in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh, served in the Indian Army and fought in the Kargil War.
Hakimuddin retired as a havildar from the Engineers Regiment a year after the conflict, reported news agency PTI.
"While my elder brother lives in Uttar Pradesh, I, along with my two brothers and their children, have been living in Pune's Chandannagar area for the last many decades," he said.
On Saturday midnight, around 80 people suddenly reached their house and banged the door. “When we opened it, some of them barged in and started demanding Aadhaar cards of the family members. When we showed the documents, they termed them as fake and asked the women and children to produce Aadhaar cards,” Shaikh alleged.
He said that they tried to explain to the group that the family had been residing there for the past six decades, and that apart from his elder brother, two of his uncles had also served in the army.
"My uncle was injured in the 1971 war after a bomb explosion and was awarded for his valour. Another uncle fought alongside Abdul Hameed during the Indo-Pak War of 1965," he added.
However, the members of the group hurled abuses and accused the family of being Bangladeshis, claimed Shaikh.
“I told them that if they want to investigate, they are welcome to do so, but barging into someone's house, hurling abuses and forcing children to show documents at midnight was not appropriate," he said, further claiming that when the group began chanting religious slogans and tried to forcibly take the family to the police station, two individuals accompanying them identified themselves as cops. However, the two men who claimed to be police stood by silently and did not do anything, Shaikh further alleged.
After they reached the Chandannagar Police Station, a woman inspector took their documents and asked them to wait outside.
"After making us wait for two hours, the officer told us to visit again the next day and warned that if we fail to do so, we would be declared Bangladeshi nationals," Shaikh said.
He added that they visited the police station again the following day.
"We were asked not to make an issue out of the incident and not to file any complaint. Police are now trying to pressure us and show that no one barged into our house," Shaikh, who works in the transport sector, said.
If there were any discrepancies in the documents, the police would have taken a coercive action, he said, adding, "But since all our documents are genuine, they are now asking us to stay quiet.”
He informed the officers that they could provide a proof of their Indian citizenship dating back to 400 years.
Shaikh said they then approached social activist Rahul Dambale, who helped them contact a senior police officer. The officer assured action in the matter, but even after three to four days, no steps have been taken, he alleged.
Reacting to the incident, Hakimuddin, who served in the Engineers Regiment, told PTI said, "We have been living in Pune for over 50 years. While living in Pune, my uncle Mohammad Salim was recruited into the Indian Army. What happened with my family was wrong, and if needed, I will speak to the police and seek an explanation.”
However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4) Somay Munde asserted that while no such incident involving a large group barging into Shaikh's house took place some police personnel did visit the place to verify their documents.
"The drive against illegal Bangladeshi nationals is underway in the city. Under this drive, police received some information and went to the house to verify it. Since it was night, no women were brought to the police station and only some male members were asked to accompany the police. As it was late, they were asked to come back the next day. Prima facie, no illegality was found in their documents," Munde said.
The police team that visited the house has video footage of the inquiry, he added.
Meanwhile, Dambale, president of the National Conference for Minority, said the Hindutva outfit members tried to terrorise the war veteran's family members.
"We have sought registration of an FIR in this connection. We will meet Pune Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar to demand action," he said.
(With PTI inputs)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
