Iranian-Origin Voters in Bihar Face Citizenship Verification Challenges Despite Generations of Residence

Iranian-origin families who have resided in Bihar's Kishanganj for two generations now confront citizenship verification challenges. Despite establishing businesses, raising families, and participating in previous elections, nearly 30 individuals have received notices demanding proof of citizenship under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process ahead of Bihar's Assembly elections.

Though Persian is their mother tongue, these families strongly identify as Indians. The ongoing voter roll revision has disrupted their lives, with numerous residents receiving verification notices despite previously submitting required documentation.

Tahir Ali expressed frustration after he and four family members received notices even though they had already provided necessary documents. Questioning what appears to be systematic harassment, he asked, "Where will we go? Our grandparents and great-grandparents were on the voter list. We can only hope to be treated with justice."

For 20-year-old Shahina Parveen pursuing B.Ed studies, her father's exclusion from voter rolls creates significant obstacles. Other community members report repeated failures to get their names added to electoral records, with political leaders making unfulfilled promises of assistance. One resident emphatically stated, "Our ancestors were not illegal, they were not from Bangladesh. We are giving all the documents asked of us and are cooperating with the government. If they want DNA, we will take it out of our ancestors' graves."

Kamar Abbas described the frustrating cycle of having names repeatedly removed from voter lists. "Whenever we have received notices, we have provided proof of our citizenship. My name was in the 2003 voter list and then it was dropped. We then got it re-added. Every time our names are dropped despite giving documents, we are just told that the orders have come from higher authorities."

Haider Ali from Ward 7 suggested the repeated voter roll removals represent a deliberate attempt to seize their land. "My mother's name was on the 2003 voter list, but it was removed in 2005. Since 2005, anonymous applications were submitted to the administration to remove the names of several members of the Iranian community from the list, and they were sent notices seeking their response. We have all the documents requested in the SIR," he explained.

As a gemstone trader, he noted that lacking voter identification creates difficulties even when securing hotel accommodations during business travel to other states.

BJP leader Sushant Gop confirmed that 28 residents of Irani Basti have received notices requiring citizenship documentation. "Iranian people have been living here for around 40 years. 28 people have been identified, but their names have not been removed from the voter list. They have been asked to give documents of citizenship proof," he stated.

Former MLA and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Mojahid Alam advised that notice recipients should submit available documentation according to Supreme Court guidelines, noting that the Election Commission would follow these same procedures.

With inputs from Shabnam Khan