Muslim voters allege targeted disenfranchisement in India
Dozens in West Bengal border district say applications falsely marked Muslim voters dead or non-citizens, triggering fear of disenfranchisement
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — More than 70 Muslim residents of a village in eastern India’s West Bengal state say their names were targeted for deletion from electoral rolls through bulk applications that falsely described them as dead or “not Indian citizens,” triggering fears of disenfranchisement in a politically sensitive border district.
The allegations emerged from Kalikahara village in Murshidabad district, near the Bangladesh border. Residents of Booth No. 193 in the Jalangi Assembly constituency said multiple Form-7 applications — a legal provision used to request removal of a voter’s name — were submitted to the Election Commission seeking deletion of dozens of names.
Form-7 is typically used to remove voters in cases of death, permanent relocation or duplication. However, affected villagers said they were neither notified nor aware of any objections until they learned their names had been listed for deletion. Several living voters were allegedly marked as deceased, while others were described as non-citizens.
“We were told we are not Indian citizens,” said Mohammad Enamul Haque, who said his family has lived and voted in the area for generations.
Murshidabad, a Muslim-majority district along India’s eastern frontier, has long been politically sensitive because of its border location and history of migration debates. In such regions, citizenship questions carry heightened social and electoral implications.
Villagers alleged that the applications were linked to a local functionary of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, though the individual denied filing any Form-7 requests and claimed possible identity misuse. Police confirmed that a complaint has been lodged and an investigation initiated.
Election officials said due process is being followed. The Assistant Electoral Registration Officer stated that no name can be deleted solely on the basis of a Form-7 submission without verification and an opportunity for the concerned voter to respond. A Booth Level Officer said he had conducted field visits to verify the objections.
The episode has intensified debate over electoral integrity and minority voter security. Civil society voices warned that repeated citizenship scrutiny in border areas can create deep insecurity among residents.
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