Iranian-origin families living in Kishanganj for decades say they will now have to prove their Indian citizenship. According to reports, at least 30 residents were recently issued notices by the district administration as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.
Many of them identify as Indian while maintaining their Persian linguistic roots. “Our grandparents and great-grandparents were on the voter list,” said Tahir Ali, one of the residents who, along with four members of his family, received the notices.
Another local told NDTV in frustration, “Our ancestors were not illegal, they were not from Bangladesh. We are giving all documents asked of us. If they want DNA, we will take it out of our ancestors’ graves.”
The dispute over their voter eligibility is not new. In 2004, the Patna High Court ordered the removal of 113 Iranian-origin residents from Ward 5 voter rolls after they failed to present valid citizenship documents.
Despite this, reports suggest some of those names resurfaced in subsequent revisions. The district administration has now issued fresh notices to more than three dozen individuals, demanding proof of citizenship.
Kamar Abbas, another resident, said, “My name was in the 2003 voter roll. Then it was dropped, later re-added. Every time we provide documents, our names are again removed. This is harassment.”
Tensions intensified earlier this month when a Booth Level Officer (BLO), Mohammad Qadir Noor, alleged that he was assaulted by members of the Iranian-origin community. Noor, assigned to Booth 266 in Motibagh, claimed that he had been under pressure for over a week to include “illegal names” in the voter list.
On September 6, Noor alleged that residents stormed his house, beat him up, and threatened further violence unless their names were added. The confrontation was resolved only after locals intervened, and police registered a case.
This incident highlighted the deep-rooted friction between officials and the community over electoral inclusion.
Local BJP leader Sushant Gop told broadcasters that while names of 28 individuals had been flagged, they were not removed from the rolls.
“Iranian people have been living here for around 40 years. Their names have not been deleted. They have only been asked to provide proof of citizenship,” he said.
Authorities have reiterated that the notices are part of the routine Special Intensive Revision exercise aimed at maintaining accurate voter lists ahead of elections. Meanwhile, residents maintain that they are Indian citizens who are being unfairly singled out.
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