The parents of a 26-year-old Indian woman, who was declared an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant and deported by Indian authorities, have been officially identified as registered voters in West Bengal. This revelation casts a stark light on the human cost of immigration crackdowns.
Voter Verification from West Bengal
Bhodu Sheikh, aged 62, and his wife Jyotsna Bibi, 55, are the distressed parents of Sunali Khatoon. Official records confirm that both their names feature in the 2002 Supplementary Integrated Roll (SIR) of electoral rolls for the Murarai assembly constituency in Birbhum district, West Bengal. The couple is registered to cast their vote at the Paikar Prathamik Vidyalay polling station.
In a move to further establish their citizenship, Bhodu and Jyotsna submitted fresh enumeration forms as recently as November 27. The electoral document lists Bhodu's father as Hatim Tai Sheikh, providing a generational link to the area.
A Family's Ordeal: Arrest, Deportation, and Bail
Their daughter, Sunali Khatoon, who is nine months pregnant, faced a harrowing journey. She, along with her husband Danish Sheikh, their eight-year-old son Shabir, her cousin Sweety Biwi, and Sweety's two minor sons, was initially arrested in New Delhi in June during drives targeting undocumented individuals.
The entire group was subsequently deported to Bangladesh. However, upon arrival, Bangladeshi authorities arrested them on August 21 for entering the country without valid documents. They spent over three months in a Bangladeshi prison.
In a recent development, a court in Chapai Nawabganj, Bangladesh, granted bail to all six individuals on Monday. The bail offers a glimmer of hope but does not resolve their status or ensure their return to India.
A Father's Plea and Hope for Justice
Speaking from Bengal, an ailing Bhodu Sheikh emphatically asserted the family's Indian nationality. "All of us are Indian citizens," he stated. He and his wife, both grappling with failing health, are consumed with worry for their pregnant daughter's safety and well-being.
"We heard about her bail in Bangladesh. Karishma, her cousin in Delhi, is updating us about the case," Bhodu said. Placing his trust in the Indian legal system, he added, "We have put our faith in the Indian judiciary. We are hopeful of Sunali’s return but will only rest when she returns home."
This case underscores the complex and often tragic consequences of immigration enforcement, where documented Indian citizens can get caught in a bureaucratic nightmare, separated from their families and country.
