Two Pakistani Women Found on Bihar's Voter List: A Shocking Revelation

Unexpected Discovery in Bihar

A surprising incident has emerged from Bihar, where two women of Pakistani origin have been listed in the draft voter registry in Bhagalpur. Reports suggest that these individuals arrived in India nearly 70 years ago. This situation was uncovered during a verification initiative led by the Ministry of Home Affairs aimed at identifying foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas in India. Investigations revealed that voter ID cards were issued to Imrana Khanam, also known as Imrana Khatoon, the spouse of Ibtul Hasan, and Firdousia Khanam, married to Md. Tafjeel Ahmed. Both women were verified during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in preparation for the upcoming 2025 assembly elections and were subsequently issued voter ID cards.

Verification Process and Findings

The names of these women not only appeared on the state's voter list but were also confirmed during the SIR process. The Booth Level Officer (BLO) responsible for the verification stated that she received instructions from the election department based on a formal communication from the Home Ministry dated August 11.

Details of the Pakistani Women

Firdousia, originally from Rangpur, entered India on January 19, 1956, with a three-month visa, while Imrana arrived on a three-year visa. The district administration in Bhagalpur has initiated actions against them, and notices will be dispatched to both women, requiring them to present their documentation.

Both reside in Bhikanpur Gumti No. 3 Tank Lane, under the jurisdiction of Ishakchak police station. In the case of Imrana Khatoon, the district administration has begun the process to remove her name from the voter list.

Statements from Imrana Khatoon

Imrana Khatoon stated, "I verified their details during the SIR. I received a letter from the department containing their passport numbers, which I cross-checked. We have been instructed to remove their names. One of them, Imrana Khanam, is elderly and unable to speak. Following departmental orders, I filled out the necessary forms to initiate the removal process. Her passport dates back to 1956, and her visa was issued in 1958. She is from Pakistan. The department will continue the investigation from here. I received a notice from the Home Ministry on August 11."

Overview of Bihar's SIR

In July, Bihar commenced a Special Intensive Revision of the voter list in anticipation of the forthcoming assembly elections. During the initial phase, enumeration forms were distributed and collected between June 25 and July 25. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), out of 7.89 crore registered voters in Bihar as of June 24, forms from 7.24 crore voters were submitted by the deadline.