CRPF man challenges dismissal over marriage to Pakistani woman

RAJOURI — Munir Ahmed, a resident of Bhalwal in Jammu and Kashmir, has approached the High Court in Jammu to contest his dismissal from the CRPF for marrying his Pakistani cousin, Menal Khan.

Ahmed argued that he had duly informed both his current and previous battalions, the 41 Battalion in Bhopal and the 72 Battalion in Rajouri, about the marriage, which took place online on May 24, 2024.

He presented evidence, including an Indian Nikahnama, a Pakistani marriage certificate, and a wedding invitation to prove the legitimacy of the union.

Menal legally entered India on a short-term visa on February 28, 2025, and applied for a Long-Term Visa (LTV) on March 4, with multiple MPs supporting her application.

However, following the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people, authorities issued Menal a ‘Leave India’ notice. Subsequently, Ahmed was dismissed on May 2 for “harbouring a Pakistani national” and allegedly concealing the marriage.

In court, Ahmed described the dismissal as “arbitrary and whimsical,” arguing it violated his fundamental rights under Article 21. He maintains that his wife’s visa status was legal and her LTV application is still under consideration.

The CRPF invoked Article 311 to justify the immediate termination, citing national security concerns and breach of conduct rules.