On 24th August, a shocking revelation surfaced in Bhagalpur, Bihar. Two women identified as Imrana Khanam and Firdousia Khanam, both of Pakistani origin, were discovered to have their names listed in the state’s official voter list. Alongside this, they also possessed Aadhaar cards, documents that normally establish the holder’s identity as an Indian resident.

According to records, Imrana entered India in 1956 on a 3-year visa, while Firdousia came the same year but only on a 3-month visa. Neither of them returned when their visas expired. Instead, they stayed back in India and managed to integrate themselves into society for decades.

The matter only came to light when the Election Commission launched its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a drive designed not only to update voters’ names but also to verify their citizenship status. During this scrutiny, officials noticed irregularities. It was revealed that although the names had even reached the draft voter list, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) intervened. On the Ministry’s instructions, the process to remove these names from the rolls has now been initiated.

Discrepancy Uncovered During Verification

Officials confirmed that both women had originally entered India in 1956 using Pakistani passports. However, after the expiry of their respective visas, neither renewed the documents. They remained in India illegally for nearly seven decades. During the current verification exercise, the authorities carefully cross-checked the available passport details and confirmed their status as foreign nationals, not Indian citizens.

Name Removal Process Initiated

The seriousness of the situation was highlighted by the Booth Level Officer (BLO), Farzana Khanam, who was directly involved in the verification. She explained that she had acted after receiving directions from higher officials, following the identification made by the Home Ministry. The BLO further mentioned that Imrana, who is now elderly and ailing, could not respond during the questioning.

The Home Ministry had formally issued a notice on 11th August, which set the legal process in motion. This notice became the foundation for removing the names of the two Pakistani nationals from the Indian electoral records.

Administrative Action Underway

Administrative sources later disclosed a surprising detail: Imrana had once worked in a government job in India. This revelation raised serious concerns about how deep the loopholes in the system might have been, allowing a foreign national to gain such access.

The inquiry is now focusing on how long their names remained in the voter list and whether they had actually cast votes in past elections. The outcome of this investigation could have far-reaching implications, both for the administration and for the political environment of the region.

District Administration’s Response

Bhagalpur’s District Magistrate, Dr. Nawal Kishor Choudhary, confirmed the authenticity of the findings. He stated clearly, “There are 24 lakh voters in Bhagalpur. BLOs visit each booth for verification. This is the first time such a case has been reported, and we will take action as per the law.”

His statement underlined both the rarity and the gravity of the situation, stressing that although Bhagalpur has an enormous voter base, such instances of Pakistani nationals with valid Indian voter IDs had never been detected before.

Larger Political Context

The discovery of two Pakistani nationals listed as Indian voters has highlighted the importance of the SIR exercise. The process, which is often criticized as cumbersome, now stands validated as an essential tool to safeguard the electoral system from misuse.

This revelation has also reignited the political debate on infiltration and illegal stays in India, especially in the wake of security threats. After the Pahalgam terrorist attack in April this year, the Union government had issued repeated warnings directing Pakistani nationals to leave the country immediately.

Now, with elections approaching in several states, the case from Bhagalpur is expected to strengthen calls for SIR drives across the country, particularly in poll-bound states where the integrity of the voter list is of utmost importance.