SRINAGAR: A major controversy erupted on Tuesday after the family of Shamima Begum mother of slain police officer and Shaurya Chakra recipient Mudassir Sheikh claimed she was forcibly taken from her Uri residence to be sent back to Pakistan.
Hours later, Jammu and Kashmir Police issued a formal rebuttal, calling the allegation baseless and urging against the spread of false narratives.
Mudassir Sheikh lost his life in a gunbattle with Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists near Baramulla in May 2022. A year later, in May 2023, his mother Shamima Begum stood proudly at Rashtrapati Bhavan as President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Shaurya Chakra on her son posthumously.
Late Tuesday, Baramulla Police released a statement emphasizing, “His martyrdom remains a profound source of pride for the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the entire nation. We urge citizens and media to avoid circulating unverified claims.”
Following the denial, a video surfaced online in which Begum clarified the misunderstanding.
“There was a dispute involving a neighbor, and I was unwell. My family took me to Srinagar for treatment. Some people assumed I was picked up by the police, but that’s false. The circulating videos are misleading and based on rumor,” she explained.
Earlier that day, however, family members asserted that 65-year-old Begum had been “taken away” on Monday. Her uncle, Mohammad Younus Sheikh, recounted that Begum’s father had migrated to Pakistan during the Partition, remarried there, and later returned to India with his daughter who has lived in Uri ever since. “He is buried here too,” Younus added.
Nasir Maqsood, son of Shamima Begum, told The New Indian that local police officials had come to a neighboring residence in connection with the deportation drive, and since they are familiar with our family, they also stopped by to inquire about our well-being. Around the same time, my mother’s health deteriorated, and we decided to take her to Srinagar for medical care. Because both we and the police departed around the same moment, it led to a misunderstanding that my mother had also been detained for deportation.
He added that the repatriation directive has come from the Central Government and is being implemented uniformly, reflecting the widespread public outrage. However, he also noted that the government recognizes the ultimate sacrifice made by his brother. “The district officials are in regular contact with us and have shown great sensitivity and support,” he said.
Meanwhile, officials in Jammu and Kashmir have transported 59 people to Punjab for repatriation to Pakistan. Reports indicate that 28 of them were taken from the Valley to Attari by bus.
The sweeping deportation exercise has drawn sharp criticism, including from former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who urged the Centre to reconsider its approach.
“The recent directive to expel all Pakistani nationals from India raises grave humanitarian concerns, especially in Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.
Mufti pointed out that many of those facing deportation are women who arrived decades ago, married Indian citizens, raised children, and have long since integrated into Indian society. “Forcibly removing them would be both cruel and deeply disruptive. These families know no other home,” she added.
On April 25 a meeting was chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, where senior officials were directed to take “firm and necessary action” to meet the Home Ministry’s deadline on removing Pakistani nationals residing unlawfully in the Union Territory.
