Dismissed CRPF Trooper Claims Marriage to Pakistani Woman Was Cleared by Authorities, Vows Legal Fight

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper Munir Ahmed, who was recently dismissed from service for allegedly hiding his marriage to a Pakistani woman, has come forward to deny the accusations, claiming he followed due protocol and obtained official clearance for the union nearly a year ago.

The case, which has sparked controversy due to its sensitive cross-border implications, is now headed to court as Ahmed prepares to challenge his dismissal.

Ahmed, a native of Gharota in the Jammu region, has been serving with the CRPF since April 2017.

In a detailed conversation with the media from his home, he asserted that he had formally informed the CRPF headquarters about his intent to marry Minal Khan, a Pakistani national, and had received explicit permission before the marriage took place.

“I never concealed anything. I made my first communication to the force on December 31, 2022, expressing my wish to marry a Pakistani citizen. I was then asked to provide several documents, including passport copies, affidavits from my parents and local representatives like the sarpanch and DDC member, along with a copy of the marriage invitation,” Ahmed said.

After fulfilling the documentation requirements, Ahmed claims he received written permission from the CRPF headquarters on April 30, 2024, nearly a month before the marriage was solemnized via a video call on May 24, 2024.

He also stated that after the marriage, he submitted photographic evidence, marriage certificates, and ‘nikkah’ documents to his unit — the 72nd Battalion — where he was stationed at the time.

The issue surfaced publicly only after the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead. In its aftermath, India escalated diplomatic measures, including the revocation of visas for several Pakistani nationals, prompting scrutiny into Khan’s continued stay in India.

Khan had entered India on February 28, 2025, via the Wagah-Attari border on a short-term visa valid until March 22. However, her deportation was halted following a High Court stay order, and she is currently residing with Ahmed in Jammu.

According to Ahmed, the couple applied for a Long-Term Visa (LTV) immediately after Khan arrived in India and underwent all procedural formalities, including a personal interview.

“It was this due diligence that helped the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh intervene at the last moment and stay her deportation,” he noted.

In response to his dismissal, the CRPF had earlier stated that Ahmed had “concealed” his marital status and “harbored” a foreign national beyond her visa validity — acts considered detrimental to national security. However, Ahmed firmly disputes these allegations, maintaining that all actions were taken with official knowledge and documentation.

Ahmed also detailed the events leading up to his dismissal. He said he had returned from leave and was summoned to report to his battalion headquarters in Sunderbani on March 25.

Just two days later, on March 27, he was handed an abrupt transfer order to report to the 41st Battalion in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, without the customary 15-day notice period typically granted for such postings. “I was given no time. I was immediately relieved and asked to report in Bhopal, which I did by March 29,” he said.

Once in Bhopal, Ahmed said he completed a formal interview process with his new commanding officer and deputy and once again declared his marriage to a Pakistani national in all official documents.

“I also made an entry in the battalion’s data record book about my marriage. There was complete transparency on my part,” he emphasized.

Ahmed stated that he only learned about his dismissal through news reports, which was later followed by an official communication from the CRPF. “It was devastating for my family and me.

We did everything by the book. I firmly believe the court will see the truth and justice will prevail,” he added, confirming that he will be filing a legal petition in the coming days.

This case has triggered wider conversations about bureaucratic communication within armed forces, the complexities of cross-border relationships in the current geopolitical climate, and the procedural transparency required in sensitive cases involving personnel of security agencies.

Meanwhile, no formal response has been issued by CRPF beyond the dismissal notice.

Ahmed’s legal battle is expected to unfold shortly, potentially setting a precedent for how personal relationships involving foreign nationals are handled in the paramilitary forces, particularly in the context of national security concerns.