During a special revision of electoral rolls in Bhagalpur, Bihar, two Pakistani women were found to be illegally registered on the voter list, possessing Indian Voter IDs. The discovery, which has sparked alarm and triggered a formal investigation, occurred during a verification drive conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The MHA's campaign is aimed at identifying foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas.
The women have been identified as Imrana Khanam and Firdaus Khanam, both residing in the Bhikhanpur Gumti Number 3, Tank Lane, Islamnagar police station area. According to reports, EPIC numbers had been issued in their names. Authorities are now working to remove their names from the voter list and cancel their EPIC cards.
District Magistrate of Bhagalpur, Dr. Naval Kishore Chaudhary, confirmed that an immediate investigation was launched after receiving a report from the Special Branch. He stated that the process of deleting their names from the electoral rolls has begun. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) has also formed a team to investigate the matter thoroughly. Authorities are trying to determine how these foreign citizens were included in the voter list, and action will be taken against any concerned officials found guilty of negligence.
The MHA's investigation revealed details regarding the women's visas and entry into India. Firdaus Khanam reportedly entered India on a three-month visa on January 19, 1956. Imrana, on the other hand, was issued a three-year visa. Despite the expiration of their visas, both women continued to stay in India and allegedly obtained the necessary documents. The investigation also uncovered another case involving a Pakistani national, Mohammad Aslam, who illegally entered India and obtained an Aadhaar card. Aslam entered India on May 24, 2002, with a two-year visa.
The Special Branch has sought a detailed investigation report from the DM and SSP of Bhagalpur and has directed them to take necessary action. According to Booth Level Officer (BLO) Farzana Khatoon, the matter came to light after a letter from the Home Ministry on August 11, which included the passport and visa number of one of the women. Following this, an investigation was initiated, and the process of removing their names from the list commenced.
The discovery has ignited controversy and raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral rolls in Bihar. The fact that the women also possessed Aadhaar cards has further amplified these concerns. The incident has led to heightened scrutiny of the processes involved in voter registration and document verification. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has been notified, and a report will be sent to the ECI after the investigation is concluded.
