Authorities in Bihar are investigating the inclusion of two Pakistani women on the Bhagalpur voter list. The women are believed to have been in India for approximately seven decades. This matter came to light during a Ministry of Home Affairs verification process, which was designed to identify foreign nationals residing in India beyond the period permitted by their visas. The women, identified as Imrana Khanam (Imrana Khatoon) and Firdousia Khanam, had received voter ID cards and were verified during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) ahead of the 2025 assembly elections.
The Booth Level Officer (BLO) handling the verification process confirmed that they were informed by the election department, based on a notice from the Home Ministry dated August 11.
Firdousia arrived in India on a three-month visa on January 19, 1956, while Imrana had a three-year visa. The Bhagalpur district administration has initiated proceedings and will send notices to the women requesting supporting documents. Both women reside in Bhikanpur Gumti No. 3 Tank Lane under the Ishakchak police station.
In Imrana Khatoon’s case, Farzana Khatoon received the order from the district administration, and the process to remove her name started. Imrana Khatoon, due to her old age and health, was unable to speak, but the officer verified the passport details and visa, as per departmental orders, before starting the process to remove her name. The passport was from 1956, and the visa was from 1958. The next steps of the investigation will be carried out by the department.
Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision of the voter list was conducted in July ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The ECI confirmed that forms from 7.24 crore voters were received by July 25 out of a total of 7.89 crore registered voters in Bihar as of June 24.