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Families of Iranian-origin Bihar residents, who have been living in the state for over two decades, received notices to prove their citizenship under the ongoing SIR exercise.
Voters wait in queues at a polling station to cast their votes in Bihar’s Gaya district. (IMAGE: PTI FILE)
Descendants of Iranian-origin Bihar residents in the poll-bound state’s Kishanganj have received notices to prove their citizenship under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Iranian-origin Bihar residents, who call themselves Indians and native Persian speakers, told broadcaster NDTV that 30 people have been asked to submit documents to prove their citizenship.
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Tahir Ali, who along with four other members of his family received similar notices, told the broadcasters that his “grandparents and great-grandparents were on the voter list”.
Another resident said if officials demand DNA then they shall “take it out of our ancestors’ graves”, claiming that these Iranian-origin families are not illegals.
“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,” the person said.
A report by Jagran from September says that at least three dozen Iranian-origin residents have received such notices.
Their report said that earlier this month a Booth Level Officer (BLO) was allegedly assaulted by residents of Iranian origin after he refused to add their names to the voter list.
According to the Jagran report dated September 6, the incident took place at the home of Mohammad Qadir Noor, BLO for Booth 266 in Motibagh, who said he allegedly had been under pressure for over a week to include names that did not belong in his booth.
On the day of the attack, individuals from the Iranian settlement allegedly forced their way into Noor’s house, beat him up and threatened him with further violence if their names were not registered. The situation was defused only after neighbours intervened, and police later registered a case.
The confrontation stems from a long-running dispute over citizenship, Jagran said in its report.
In 2004, the Patna High Court had ordered the removal of around 113 Iranian-origin residents from the voter rolls in Ward 5 after they failed to produce valid citizenship documents.
Despite that, some of those individuals allegedly managed to re-enter the rolls in later years. The district administration has now issued fresh notices to more than three dozen Iranian-origin voters in the ward.
Kamar Abbas, who spoke to broadcaster NDTV, said his name was present in the 2003 voter roll.
“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,” Abbas was quoted as saying.
Local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushant Gop told the broadcaster that the residents’ “names have not been removed from the voter list”.
“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,” Gop was quoted as saying.
About the Author
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More
Kishanganj, India, India
September 29, 2025, 21:38 IST
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