An investigation is underway in Bihar following the inclusion of two Pakistani women in the Bhagalpur voter list. The women, who allegedly arrived in India approximately 70 years ago, were identified during a Ministry of Home Affairs verification process aimed at identifying foreign nationals residing in India beyond their visa validity. Voter ID cards were issued to Imrana Khanam, also known as Imrana Khatoon, and Firdousia Khanam. These individuals were even verified during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, a preparatory step for the 2025 assembly elections. The incident has raised significant concerns.
The inclusion of the women’s names in the state’s voter list, along with their verification during the SIR process, has prompted action. The Booth Level Officer (BLO) responsible for the verification stated that they were notified by the election department based on a formal communication from the Home Ministry dated August 11.
Firdousia arrived in India on January 19, 1956, on a three-month visa, while Imrana’s visa was for three years. The Bhagalpur district administration has initiated proceedings, with notices to be served to both women, requiring them to provide supporting documentation. They both reside in the Bhikanpur Gumti No. 3 Tank Lane area, under the jurisdiction of the Ishakchak police station. In Imrana Khatoon’s case, Farzana Khatoon received the notice from the district administration, and the process to remove Imrana’s name has commenced.
Imrana Khatoon stated, “I verified them during the SIR. I received a letter from the department with their passport numbers, which I cross-checked. We have been asked to remove their names. One of their names is Imrana Khanam. She was not in a condition to speak, she is old and unwell. As per the orders of the department, I filled out the form and began the process of removing her name. Her passport is from 1956, and she got her visa in 1958. She is from Pakistan. The next step of the investigation will be carried out by the department. I had received a notice from the Home Ministry on 11 August.”
The Special Intensive Revision of the voter list in Bihar was launched in July ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. In the first phase, enumeration forms were distributed and collected between June 25 and July 25. The Election Commission of India (ECI) reported that out of 7.89 crore registered voters in Bihar as of June 24, forms from 7.24 crore voters were received by July 25.
