Special Correspondent
Pune: A disturbing incident occurred in Pune where a mob allegedly stormed the house of a retired soldier’s family—who had served during the Kargil War—demanding proof of their Indian citizenship. The incident happened around midnight on Thursday, and the Pune Police have since registered an FIR based on the complaint filed by the victim, Shamsad Ali Shaikh.
According to the complaint, a group of unidentified men forcibly entered the Shaikh household and began threatening the family, accusing them of being “Rohingya” or “Bangladeshi.” The mob attempted to evict them from their own home while shouting communal slogans. Notably, multiple members of the Shaikh family, including the complainant’s grandfather and uncle, are retired personnel from the Indian Army.
Following the complaint, police from the Chandan Nagar police station reached the spot and assured the family of strict legal action. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar took serious note of the incident and warned that those responsible would face harsh consequences. “This is an extremely condemnable incident. An attack on the family of someone who served the nation is worrying for society at large,” said Kumar.
He further added that the police are scanning CCTV footage to identify the accused. “I have personally spoken with the affected family in Chandan Nagar. Senior officers have also visited the site. The events of Saturday and Sunday night involved individuals going to the residence, creating chaos, and making inflammatory remarks. We have already registered one FIR and are recording further statements today. The victims have expressed satisfaction with the police response and have been assured that strict action will be taken,” the Commissioner stated.
Political leaders have reacted strongly to the incident. NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar posted on social media, criticizing the mob’s actions. “If a Muslim family, whose members fought in the 1971 and Kargil wars, is being harassed and falsely accused of being Bangladeshi by radical right-wing groups, and if so-called officials in civil dress are acting as mere spectators, this cannot be tolerated in any civil society,” he wrote.
The incident has sparked fear among residents in the area, with locals expressing concern about rising communal tensions and safety in their neighborhoods. The investigation is ongoing.
