Emotional scenes at the district office, as long-settled residents say they were born and raised in Darjeeling, produce valid documents, and question why only Muslims were flagged
DARJEELING – Serious questions have been raised in West Bengal after nearly 30 members of the Muslim community were summoned for citizenship verification during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Darjeeling.
The action followed a complaint filed by a man identified as Sunil Chhetri, who reportedly alleged that the individuals were not Indian citizens and demanded that their names be deleted from the voter list.
The hearings took place on Sunday (15 February), the final day after the SIR deadline was extended. The final voter list is scheduled to be published on 28 February. 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 alleged 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.”
Her voice trembled as she spoke outside the district office. “It is painful to stand in front of officials and prove your identity when you have done nothing wrong,” she added.
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.
According to Tausheeq Ashraf, who has been following the matter closely, the complaint that triggered the hearings was filed by Sunil Chhetri.
“He alleged that these people are not Indian citizens and asked for their names to be deleted from the voter list,” Ashraf said. “Because of that complaint, around 30 Muslim residents were called for SIR hearings.’
Ashraf stated that all those summoned submitted valid documents and informed officials that they were Indian citizens born and raised in Darjeeling.
He also raised concerns over transparency. “The administration disclosed only the complainant’s name but not his address. Without full details, it becomes difficult to take any action or seek accountability,” he said.
Officials associated with the SIR process maintained that summoning individuals based on complaints is part of normal procedure.
An officer involved in the revision exercise said, “If any objection is filed, we are bound to call the concerned person for verification. This applies to all communities.”
He added that if documents are found valid, names remain on the voter list. “Where documents are correct, there is no deletion. Only in cases where proper documents are not produced are names removed,” the official said.
The administration also claimed that complaints had been filed against individuals from other communities as well.
However, several Muslim residents said the scale and pattern of notices in this case raised doubts.
For many families, the issue is not only about paperwork but about dignity and trust.
A young man who accompanied his parents to the hearing said, “My parents have lived here for decades. They pay taxes. They vote. Now they are being treated like outsiders. This hurts.”
Community members expressed worry that such actions create fear among law-abiding citizens.
“We respect the law and we cooperated fully,” one resident said. “But why are we repeatedly asked to prove that we belong here?”
The controversy comes at a sensitive time, with the final electoral roll set to be released on 28 February. Many residents are waiting anxiously to see whether their names remain on the list.
For now, officials insist that the process is neutral and based on rules. But for the Muslim families who had to stand before authorities to defend their citizenship, the experience has left deep scars.
As one elderly man put it quietly outside the office gates, “We have always considered Darjeeling our home. Today, we were made to feel like strangers in our own land.”
