Despite HC order, J&K cop among 9 siblings shifted to Punjab for deportation

The family, including five sisters aged between 42 and 56, were among over two dozen individuals—mostly from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)—served deportation notices in Jammu, Poonch, and Rajouri districts. Their removal comes in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, prompting the Centre to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, downgrade diplomatic ties with Islamabad, and order all Pakistanis on short-term visas to leave by April 27.

Ifthkar Ali (45), posted at the Vaishno Devi base camp in Katra, has served in the J&K Police for 27 years. He and his siblings, residents of Salwah village in Poonch, had filed a petition asserting they are Indian nationals with ancestral land and official records to prove their residency.

The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court admitted their petition and directed authorities not to force them to leave the Union Territory, pending objections. The court sought a report from the government and an affidavit from the Poonch Deputy Commissioner regarding the family’s property holdings. The next hearing is scheduled for May 20.

However, the nine family members were taken from Kathua to Punjab on Tuesday night for deportation through the Attari border.

Activist Safeer Choudhary, who led a protest with Ali’s family outside the Press Club, accused officials of ignoring the court’s directive. “They have 175 kanals of land, are listed in revenue records, and Ali has served the police force with distinction,” he said.

Emotional scenes were witnessed at their house in Mendhar, with their spouses and children making passionate appeals to the government to stop their deportation. Ali's wife said her husband was born in Mendhar and it is grave injustice to him and his children if their father is deported to a country that he does not belong to.

"What will my children do without their father?" she asked, adding, "We regret the loss of innocent lives in terror attacks but do not take revenge on us as we have done no wrong. In fact, my husband is part of the police force that is fighting against terrorism." (With PTI inputs)