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

She misplaced her son within the line of responsibility, acquired the Shaurya Chakra in his honour from the President of India, and but, her title unexpectedly surfaced in a swirl of deportation rumours.

Shameema Akhtar, the mom of Shaurya Chakra awardee Mudasir Ahmad Sheikh, was stunned when her title appeared amongst a gaggle of Pakistani residents listed for deportation. The declare had induced widespread outrage and confusion till Baramulla Police stepped in to set the document straight.

Officers dismissed the rumours as “false and baseless”, assuring that Akhtar was not amongst these being repatriated.

The clarification got here simply days after the tragic
Pahalgam terror assault, following which Jammu and Kashmir authorities ferried 59 Pakistani nationals to Punjab for his or her repatriation to their nation of origin.

However how did Shameema Akhtar get caught up within the chaos? Who’s she? Right here’s a more in-depth have a look at her journey.

Who’s Shameema Akhtar?

Shameema Akhtar got here to Kashmir greater than 40 years in the past.

Her father had migrated to Pakistan throughout the partition and began a brand new life there. Years later, after his spouse handed away, he returned to India together with his daughter. He selected to spend the remainder of his life in Kashmir and was finally laid to relaxation there too, stated Shameema’s brother-in-law Mohammad Younus Sheikh whereas talking to The Indian Categorical.

In Kashmir, Shameema settled down and married Mohammad Maqsood, who would later retire from the police power. This was earlier than militancy took maintain in Jammu and Kashmir within the Nineteen Nineties.

Their son, Constable Mudasir Ahmad Sheikh, adopted in his father’s footsteps and joined the Jammu and Kashmir Police, working with the Particular Operations Group.

In Could 2022, throughout an encounter with international militants in Baramulla, Mudasir was killed within the line of responsibility. He was credited with serving to to foil a deliberate terror assault on the
Amarnath Yatra.

For his bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Shaurya Chakra — India’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award. In his reminiscence, Baramulla’s most important city sq. was renamed “Shaheed Mudasir Chowk.”

The household’s loss and sacrifice had been acknowledged on the highest ranges, with Union Residence Minister Amit Shah and the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir visiting them to pay tribute.

In Could 2023, Shameema, accompanied by her husband, acquired the award from President Droupadi Murmu in Delhi.

Was Shameema on the verge of deportation?

In line with her son Nasir Maqsood, Shameema Akhtar’s title did seem on an preliminary checklist of people marked for deportation. Nevertheless, she was later knowledgeable she may keep.

“The SHO of our space got here to our home within the night stating that her title was amongst the checklist of individuals which have been requested to go away, however I’ve been knowledgeable immediately that her deportation has been placed on maintain,” Maqsood informed The Indian Categorical.

“My brother made the supreme sacrifice for the nation, how can my mom be requested to go away?” he requested.

Amid rising concern, the
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday additionally issued a press release clarifying that 65-year-old Shameema Akhtar wouldn’t be deported, and dismissed the rumours circulating on-line.

“Reviews circulating on social media concerning the alleged repatriation of the mom of Shaheed Constable Mudasir Ahmad are false, baseless, and categorically denied,” the Baramulla Police stated. In addition they urged media and the general public to keep away from spreading misinformation.

Shameema’s brother-in-law, Mohammad Younus, additionally confirmed that she had returned dwelling after not being taken for deportation. “We’re grateful to the Authorities of India,” he stated.

The confusion round Shameema’s title got here as the federal government launched a wider deportation drive following the latest terror assault in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 folks. As a part of its response, the Centre suspended the
Indus Waters Treaty, downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan, and ordered Pakistani nationals to go away India by April 27.

Authorities have since confirmed that 60 people, principally wives and youngsters of former militants who returned below the 2010 rehabilitation coverage, have been chosen for deportation. These people had been picked up from a number of districts, together with Srinagar (36), Baramulla (9), Kupwara (9), Budgam (4), and Shopian (2), and have been moved to Punjab for repatriation by way of the Wagah border.

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