Serious questions raise as 30 Muslims summoned for citizenship verification in West Bengal
Darjeeling: Serious questions have been raised after nearly 30 members of the Muslim community were summoned for citizenship verification during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Darjeeling, in West Bengal.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the action followed a complaint filed by a man, identified as Sunil Chhetri, who said that the individuals were not Indian citizens and demanded that their names be deleted from the voter list.
The hearings took place yesterday (15 February), the final day after the SIR deadline was extended. The final voter list is scheduled to be published on February 28. What unfolded at the district magistrate’s office left many families shaken and in tears.
Several of those summoned became emotional while speaking to officials. They said they were born and brought up in Darjeeling and have voted in previous elections.
One resident from the Chowk Bazaar area said, “I was born here. My father and grandfather lived here. My name has been on the voter list since 2002. Suddenly, I am being asked to prove that I am an Indian citizen.”
He said that someone had accessed the voter list and marked names belonging to Muslims before filing objections with the Election Commission.
“Around 30 to 35 people from our community have received complaints. This does not look random. It feels like Muslims have been singled out,” he said.
He further added that within his own family, only he and his brother were named in the complaint. “Why only us? What was the basis?” he asked.
A Muslim woman from the Rockville Road area also appeared for the hearing after receiving a notice on Friday. She said, “The notice claimed that I am not an Indian citizen. I have all my documents. I submitted everything today. I have lived here all my life.”
Others who attended the hearing made similar claims. Many said their names had appeared on voter lists for years and that they had voted in past elections without any problem.
