The family of a retired Kargil war veteran in Pune has claimed they were harassed and forced to prove their Indian citizenship after a group of 30 to 40 people, along with the police, came to their home late Saturday night. The incident took place in Chandan Nagar, where the family of 58-year-old Hakimuddin Shaikh, who fought in the 1999 Kargil War, lives.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the family said the group demanded to see identity documents and took the male members of the family to the police station around midnight. “They told us if we couldn’t prove our citizenship by 3 a.m., they would declare us Bangladeshis or Rohingyas,” a family member alleged.
Hakimuddin, who served in the Indian Army for 16 years between 1984 and 2000 in the 269 Engineer Regiment, said, “I fought in the Kargil war. My family has lived in this country for decades. Why are we being asked to prove that we belong here?”
The family is originally from Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh and has lived in Pune since 1960. While Hakimuddin moved back to his hometown in 2013, his brothers, nephews, and their families continue to live in Pune.
Hakimuddin’s brother Irshad Shaikh said, “Men shouting slogans came and kicked our doors, demanding papers. There was a plainclothes officer trying to calm things down, and a police van was parked nearby.” The family includes two more Army veterans – Shaikh Naeemuddin and Shaikh Mohammad Salim – who fought in the 1965 and 1971 wars.
Irshad questioned, “Is this how the families of soldiers are treated? What does being Indian even mean if we are forced to prove it every time someone knocks at our door?”
The family also said that even after showing valid documents like Aadhaar cards, the group refused to believe them. “They mocked our Aadhaar cards and called them fake,” said Hakimuddin’s nephew Naushad. “They behaved like goons.”
Another nephew, Shamshad Shaikh, said the police called them again on Sunday. “We waited for two hours and were told the inspector wouldn’t be coming. They still have our documents,” he said.
Police Deputy Commissioner Somay Munde said they were acting on a tip about illegal immigrants. “Once we saw the documents were valid, we let them go. No third party was with the police. We have video proof,” he said.
Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said the matter is under investigation. “If we find any wrongdoing, action will be taken. So far, it doesn’t seem that the police forced their way into the house,” he said.
