Bengal SIR: 14 voters with Indian EPIC cards found holding Bangladeshi passports; CEO asks for deletion

Amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has identified at least 14 voters holding Indian EPIC (Elector Photo Identity Card) cards while simultaneously possessing Bangladeshi passports, raising serious concerns over voter list integrity and illegal infiltration.

According to official sources, the CEO’s office received inputs suggesting that these individuals may be originally Bangladeshi residents who entered India legally but overstayed beyond the validity of their visas. Acting on these suspicions, the CEO sought verification from the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Kolkata.

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In its response, the FRRO confirmed that all 14 individuals are holders of Bangladeshi passports. The report stated that they had entered West Bengal with valid visas but failed to return to Bangladesh after their visas expired. Over time, they allegedly managed to obtain Indian identity documents, including EPIC cards, enabling them to be enrolled as voters.

Based on these findings, the CEO’s office has recommended to the Election Commission of India (ECI) that the names of these individuals be deleted from the final electoral rolls, which are scheduled to be published on February 14.

Border districts under scanner

The 14 cases have been detected across three districts, namely North 24 Parganas, Nadia, and East Midnapore. Notably, North 24 Parganas and Nadia share international borders with Bangladesh, making them particularly sensitive from a security and electoral standpoint.

Officials say these districts have remained under scrutiny due to repeated concerns over illegal migration and fraudulent documentation.

How the legal framework is allegedly breached

Investigations by the West Bengal Police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into illegal infiltration and fake document rackets have revealed a systematic pattern used to bypass India’s legal framework.

According to investigators, illegal infiltrators are first provided safe shelters in villages near the India-Bangladesh border. Racketeers then allegedly arrange fake birth certificates and ration cards through local-level manipulation. These documents are subsequently used to procure Aadhaar and PAN cards, which then form the basis for obtaining EPIC cards and even Indian passports.

Authorities say this multi-layered process has enabled several infiltrators to blend into the electoral system, posing a challenge to internal security and democratic processes.