CRPF jawan sacked for hiding marriage to Pakistani woman, aiding visa overstay
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan has been dismissed from service with immediate effect for concealing his marriage to a Pakistani national and knowingly helping her stay in India beyond the validity of her visa.The dismissal of the soldier, Munir Ahmed, was ordered after the relevant authorities concluded that his actions violated service conduct rules and posed a threat to national security. This decision also follows India's heightened punitive measures against Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam attacks.advertisementAhmed, a CRPF jawan stationed in Jammu and Kashmir, married Minal Khan from Pakistan's Punjab in May 2024 after they developed a close relationship online. Their marriage was formalised through an online nikah.
The woman arrived in India in March 2025 after a long wait for a visa. However, her short-term visa expired on March 22, and she remained in India. Her lawyer asserted that she had applied for a long-term visa.Days ago the dismissal of Ahmed, Minal Khan had received a notice to leave India after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. However, at the last minute, just as she had left Jammu and reached the Attari-Wagah border to cross into Pakistan, she was granted court relief, allowing her to remain in India.According to the CRPF, which conducted an investigation into the jawan, he failed to disclose his marriage and his wife's overstay, leading to an immediate dismissal, highlighting the severity of the breach.advertisementOfficials believe that the incident raises concerns about potential security risks and the need for increased vigilance within security forces.Tensions are running high between India and Pakistan after Pak-based terrorists killed 26 civilians, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. In response, India has announced a series of punitive measures against Pakistan, including visa cancellations, downsizing of diplomatic missions, closure of borders and airspace, suspension of trade, and the freezing of the Indus Waters Treaty, among other steps.Tune InMust Watch
IN THIS STORY#Pakistan
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
32 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Espionage case: YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra moves court, seeks regular bail
Social media influencer Jyoti Malhotra, arrested on suspicion of espionage last month, on Tuesday (June 10, 2025) sought regular bail from a local court, her lawyer said. Ms. Malhotra moved a regular bail plea before Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Sunil Kumar through her lawyer Kumar Mukesh. The court sought a reply from the police by June 11, he added. On Monday (June 9,2025), the court extended Mr. Malhotra's judicial custody and fixed her case's hearing on June 23. The 33-year-old YouTuber had appeared before the court through video-conferencing. Hisar Police arrested Ms. Malhotra on suspicion of espionage on May 16, and she was subsequently remanded to five days of police custody by the court. Following the completion of the remand, the court extended the custody by four more days after the police sought to question her further. On May 26, the court remanded her to judicial custody for 14 days. Ms. Malhotra, who hails from the city, ran a YouTube channel "Travel with JO". She was arrested at the New Aggarsain Extension and booked under provisions of the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Hisar Police previously said no evidence had emerged to indicate Ms. Malhotra had access to any military — or defence-related information but claimed she was in contact with some people, aware that they were Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIO). Police sources had previously said she was in touch with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a staffer at the Pakistani High Commission, since November 2023. India expelled Danish on May 13 for allegedly indulging in espionage. The police have claimed Pakistani intelligence operatives were developing Malhotra as an asset.
News18
32 minutes ago
- News18
News18 Evening Digest: Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder, Jaishankar On Ceasefire & Other Top Stories
Last Updated: We are also covering: Rajnath Singh Objects To Pakistan's Role At UNSC Anti-Terror Panel, Mamata's Message On Op Sindoor In Bengal Assembly, and more stories In today's News18 afternoon digest, we bring you the latest update on Raja Raghuvanshi's murder in Meghalaya, Jaishankar's real reason for the India-Pakistan ceasefire, and other top stories. The disappearance of a couple on honeymoon, husband's body in a ditch and wife's surrender – the mystery over the 'disappearance" of Indore's Sonam and Raja Raghuvanshi ended on June 9. But then emerged the new angle – the suspected lover, Raj Kushwaha, who materialised his wife's alleged plan to eliminate the husband. READ MORE Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder: The pregnancy test of Sonam Raghuvanshi, the main accused in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, was 'inconclusive", and doctors have recommended an ultrasound after a week. The test was part of a detailed medical examination conducted on Monday by a team of three female doctors who assessed her physical and mental condition. READ MORE West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday questioned why none of the terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack had been captured. She suggested that the military standoff with Pakistan had been an 'opportunity to take control of PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir)". READ MORE External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has provided a candid revelation about the real reason behind the India-Pakistan ceasefire on May 10, saying, 'Fighting stopped on the 10th for one reason and one reason only, which was that on the 10th morning we hit these eight Pakistani, the main eight Pakistani airfields and disabled them". READ MORE Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) decision to appoint Pakistan as the vice-chair of its anti-terror panel was like 'asking the cat to protect the milk." READ MORE Kunal Kapoor Shooting For Ramayana? His New PICS Spark Buzz: 'He Does Look Like Indra Dev' There's massive excitement for Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana', which will be released in two parts in 2026 and 2027, respectively. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, Sunny Deol and others. Kunal Kapoor plays Lord Indra in the highly-anticipated film, and his recent pictures have left fans speculating whether he is currently shooting for the film. Fans couldn't stop gushing over his sharp jawline, with many sharing the opinion that he's absolutely perfect to play Indra Dev. READ MORE First Published: June 10, 2025, 18:03 IST
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Russia-India On Shaky Grounds? Why India Needs To Become Truly Independent
Last Updated: Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, twice in a matter of weeks, has indicated that Russia is interested in reviving the RIC (Russia-India-China) under the Troika format. Russia is one of India's longest-serving partners. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union signed a treaty of Friendship with India, which ultimately became the foundation of the relationship between both countries. After decades of trade and cultural exchange, a sense of camaraderie has developed between the citizens of both nations. However, Russia's recent actions have raised eyebrows. First of which is the acknowledgement that US President Donald Trump played a personal and pivotal role in negotiating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, a claim that India has vehemently denied. The second action is a bit more complex and is rolled up in history, international relations and regional tensions. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, now twice in a matter of weeks, has indicated that Russia is 'genuinely' interested in reviving the RIC (Russia-India-China) under the Troika format. The Kremlin's public endorsement of Trump's assertion that he personally brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor has landed a discordant note in New Delhi. Russian President Vladimir Putin's aide, Yury Ushakov, stated that the India-Pakistan conflict was resolved through Trump's 'personal involvement", a claim repeatedly echoed by Trump himself, who even suggested he averted a nuclear disaster by leveraging US trade access as a bargaining tool. India, however, has consistently and vehemently denied any third-party mediation. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar firmly rejected these claims, clarifying that the cessation of hostilities on 10 May occurred through direct communication via a hotline, initiated by the Pakistani army. Similarly, Shashi Tharoor, leading an all-party delegation to the US, unequivocally stated that India had 'never particularly wanted to ask anyone to mediate," stressing that mediation implies an equivalence between parties, which India rejects between a state fostering terrorism and a multi-party democracy exercising its right to self-defence. Russia's alignment with a narrative that undermines India's sovereignty and strategic autonomy on such a sensitive security matter casts a shadow over their long-standing partnership. Adding to it, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has also cancelled his planned trip to Russia. Russia's Persistent Call Reviving a Dormant Troika Against this backdrop, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's repeated calls for the revival of the Russia-India-China (RIC) troika, citing significantly eased tensions between New Delhi and Beijing, appear left field. The RIC format, established in 1996 to challenge US unipolarity, has been largely dormant since the deadly Galwan Valley clashes in June 2020. Russia perceives its revival as a step towards a multi-polar architecture and pan-Eurasian processes. Lavrov has expressed that Russia has a genuine interest in resuming ministerial-level meetings, asserting that 'an understanding has been reached between India and China on how to ease the situation on the border". Why the RIC Troika is Problematic for India Lavrov's assessment of eased tensions, however, stands in stark contrast to India's ground reality. India's Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, recently affirmed that border tensions persist, with a 'degree of standoff" remaining and India maintaining its troop deployments along the Line of Actual Control, which indicates a clear lack of trust for China. And he has been proven right. China's actions during the recent India-Pakistan conflict exposed a chilling dimension of the China-Pakistan nexus. Pakistan extensively employed Chinese weapon systems and manufactured jets in its retaliation, attacking Indian soil. China provided significant strategic aid, including helping Pakistan reorganise its radar and air defence systems and adjusting satellite coverage over India during the critical 15-day period from the Pahalgam massacre to the start of large-scale fighting. This level of logistical and intelligence support is akin to being an accessory to a murder. It has led to a deep erosion of trust in India, cementing a two-front situation in its strategic planning. Furthermore, China continues its territorial assertiveness with claims over Arunachal Pradesh and renaming 27 places as recently as May 2025, a move India calls preposterous and an attempt to alter undeniable reality. In addition, Beijing's consistent blocking of India's proposals at the UN Security Council to ban Pakistan-based terrorists implicated in major attacks against India, including the Pahalgam terror attack and 26/11, further highlights its deep-seated strategic alignment with India's primary adversary. For India, China's actions during the conflict, despite recent limited diplomatic thaws, underscore a paradoxical reality where attempts at normalisation are undermined by a deep-seated strategic alignment with a terror state fundamentally rendering any genuine cooperation impossible and solidifying the relationship as one of strategic rivalry. India's Path to True Independence India's foreign policy has long been characterised by strategic autonomy, a delicate balancing act that Russia often misconstrues, particularly regarding India's participation in the Quad. While Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov has alleged that the US and Quad are coercing India into anti-China military operations, India maintains that Quad is a diplomatic partnership for maritime security and a free and open Indo-Pacific, not a military alliance targeting China. India's neutrality on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, including abstaining from UN resolutions, and Prime Minister Modi's concurrent engagements with both Western and Russian leaders, underscore its commitment to multi-alignment rather than outright alliance with any single power bloc. India has continued to buy crude oil despite sanctions on the sale of Russian Crude oil, underlining the relationship that both these nations share. Despite Russia retaining a degree of strategic trust and remaining a key defence supplier, the recent diplomatic gaffes and the push for a problematic RIC revival might force India to re-evaluate its foreign policy foundations. China's continued support for Pakistan's military capabilities and its diplomatic protection of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations means that the India-China relationship cannot evolve beyond a transactional one, fraught with underlying tensions. While economic interdependence with China is substantial, highlighted by a significant trade deficit and reliance on Chinese components, India's strategic imperatives, including managing a potential two-front situation, necessitate strengthening diverse partnerships, especially in its South-South axis. top videos View all Russia's actions are jarring, from endorsing a disputed ceasefire narrative to advocating a troika with an actively hostile China. It pushes India to prioritise its own security and strategic interests with even greater determination. India must continue to strengthen partnerships with countries across the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and the Southern Hemisphere, and position itself as a leader of the Global South. India's challenge now is to navigate this complex geopolitical landscape by becoming truly independent, resisting global geopolitical headwinds that compromise its core security interests, and forging a path ensuring its long-term stability and growth. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. About the Author Sohil Sinha Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects. tags : india-china relationship India-Russia relations Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 10, 2025, 17:19 IST News opinion Opinion | Russia-India On Shaky Grounds? Why India Needs To Become Truly Independent
