Was mother of Shaurya Chakra awardee ordered to be deported? The story of Shameema Akhtar

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30-04-2025

Shameema Akhtar, the mother of Shaurya Chakra awardee Mudasir Ahmad Sheikh, was taken aback when her name appeared among a group of Pakistani citizens listed for deportation after the Pahalgam terror attack, her family claimed. However, J&K Police set the record straight and called the reports 'fake and baseless'. Akhtar has lived in India for over four decades read more
Shameema Akhtar, the mother of Shaurya Chakra awardee Mudasir Ahmad Sheikh, came to Kashmir more than 40 years ago. Her name initially appeared among a group of Pakistani citizens listed for deportation. However, officials dismissed it as a 'false and baseless' rumour. Image for Representation. AFP
She lost her son in the line of duty, received the Shaurya Chakra in his honour from the President of India, and yet, her name unexpectedly surfaced in a swirl of deportation rumours.
Shameema Akhtar, the mother of Shaurya Chakra awardee Mudasir Ahmad Sheikh, was taken aback when her name appeared among a group of Pakistani citizens listed for deportation. The claim had caused widespread outrage and confusion until Baramulla Police stepped in to set the record straight.
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Officials dismissed the rumours as 'false and baseless', assuring that Akhtar was not among those being repatriated.
The clarification came just days after the tragic Pahalgam terror attack, following which Jammu and Kashmir authorities ferried 59 Pakistani nationals to Punjab for their repatriation to their country of origin.
But how did Shameema Akhtar get caught up in the chaos? Who is she? Here's a closer look at her journey.
Who is Shameema Akhtar?
Shameema Akhtar came to Kashmir more than 40 years ago.
Her father had migrated to Pakistan during the partition and started a new life there. Years later, after his wife passed away, he returned to India with his daughter. He chose to spend the rest of his life in Kashmir and was eventually laid to rest there too, said Shameema's brother-in-law Mohammad Younus Sheikh while speaking to The Indian Express.
In Kashmir, Shameema settled down and married Mohammad Maqsood, who would later retire from the police force. This was before militancy took hold in Jammu and Kashmir in the 1990s.
Their son, Constable Mudasir Ahmad Sheikh, followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Jammu and Kashmir Police, working with the Special Operations Group.
In May 2022, during an encounter with foreign militants in Baramulla, Mudasir was killed in the line of duty. He was credited with helping to foil a planned terror attack on the Amarnath Yatra.
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For his bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra — India's third-highest peacetime gallantry award. In his memory, Baramulla's main town square was renamed 'Shaheed Mudasir Chowk.'
The family's loss and sacrifice were acknowledged at the highest levels, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir visiting them to pay tribute.
In May 2023, Shameema, accompanied by her husband, received the award from President Droupadi Murmu in Delhi.
In May 2023, Shameema, accompanied by her husband, received Shaurya Chakra — India's third-highest peacetime gallantry award, from President Droupadi Murmu in Delhi. Image courtesy: PIB
Was Shameema on the verge of deportation?
According to her son Nasir Maqsood, Shameema Akhtar's name did appear on an initial list of individuals marked for deportation. However, she was later informed she could stay.
'The SHO of our area came to our house in the evening stating that her name was amongst the list of people that have been asked to leave, but I have been informed today that her deportation has been put on hold,' Maqsood told The Indian Express.
'My brother made the supreme sacrifice for the country, how can my mother be asked to leave?' he asked.
An Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel (L) inspects passport and documents of a Pakistani citizen (R) accompained by her husband, an Indian citizen, as she prepares to return to her country through the India-Pakistan Wagah border post. AFP
Amid growing concern, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday also issued a statement clarifying that 65-year-old Shameema Akhtar would not be deported, and dismissed the rumours circulating online.
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'Reports circulating on social media regarding the alleged repatriation of the mother of Shaheed Constable Mudasir Ahmad are false, baseless, and categorically denied,' the Baramulla Police said. They also urged media and the public to avoid spreading misinformation.
Shameema's brother-in-law, Mohammad Younus, also confirmed that she had returned home after not being taken for deportation. 'We are thankful to the Government of India,' he said.
The confusion around Shameema's name came as the government launched a wider deportation drive following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people. As part of its response, the Centre suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan, and ordered Pakistani nationals to leave India by April 27.
Authorities have since confirmed that 60 individuals, mostly wives and children of former militants who returned under the 2010 rehabilitation policy, have been selected for deportation. These individuals were picked up from multiple districts, including Srinagar (36), Baramulla (9), Kupwara (9), Budgam (4), and Shopian (2), and have been moved to Punjab for repatriation through the Wagah border.
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With input from agencies