Deleted in SIR, four Bengali men are now locked up in Chhattisgarh detention center for more than a month

(clockwise) a) Sabir Sheikh, b) Nasiruddin Sheikh, c) Safikul Islam, d) Laltu Sheikh.

Four migrant workers from Murshidabad, West Bengal now find themselves in a strange situation after their names were struck off the electoral roll during the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. It’s been a month now; they were detained by the Chhattisgarh Police and lodged in a detention center in Raipur on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals despite their long-term residence in India for many generations.

In late August, at least 23 migrant workers, including four persons Sabir Sheikh (42), Safikul Islam (39), Nasiruddin Sheikh (35) and Laltu Sheikh (28) from Murshidabad’s Samserganj and Sahabad, went to Chhattisgarh in search of work, where they also sold goods door-to-door.

On September 4, the Chhattisgarh Police detained 23 persons from their residences in Chunchiapara-Ganesh Nagar under Sirgiti Police Station on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals. They were initially taken to the office of the Superintendent of Police in Bilaspur, from where they were transferred to the Detention Center for Illegal Immigrants in Raipur.

Taken in SIR

Later, 19 of these 23 workers were released on September 18 after a local civil court issued an order, while the four men continued to be housed in a detention center. The police questioned their nationalities in court based on the deletion of their names in the SIR exercise. Interestingly, the rest of the 19 people found their names back on the electoral roll after the April decision process.

“I have lived in Samserganj since my childhood. Our old house was a century old, probably built by my great-grandfather. After it was washed away due to soil erosion, we set up our new residence in 1973. We have documents for both these houses. How could my son be Bangladeshi?” said Safikul’s father, 67-year-old Riyajul Sheikh.

The names of Riyajul and his eldest son Rafikul were included in the voter list. But his two other sons – Safikul and Asikul – were struck off the electoral roll after the SIR. In notices issued to them, the Election Commission of India (ECI) called it a “logical contradiction” that six other people had also claimed Riyajul as their own father.

He is awaiting trial

They have now appealed to the tribunal and asked for their names to be returned. However, applications are still pending.

Sabir’s elder brother Mostakim Sheikh was also detained by the Chhattisgarh police but was later released. “All our names are in the electoral roll after SIR. Only my brother’s name was struck out for the same. We are still waiting for the tribunal’s decision against his appeal for inclusion. How could the court before him decide whether he is an illegal citizen?” said Mostakim.

The situation is not so different for Lalta and Nasiruddin.

The family members of the four have now filed an application in the Calcutta High Court asking the Chhattisgarh government to release the detainees. The petitioners said they have been detained even as their appeal against the deletion of their names from the electoral rolls is being heard by the tribunal. Therefore, the actions of the authorities are “wholly arbitrary, illegal and unsustainable in law”. They have temporarily visited Chhattisgarh for work, but have “permanent roots” in West Bengal.

Double standard

During the first hearing of the matter on Monday (September 5, 2026), the Calcutta High Court also criticized the state for its “double standard”. He said the situation was “contradictory”. “If the authorities claim that some persons are not Indian citizens, then what would the appellate body (tribunal) do?” Justice Krishna Rao asked.

It asked the Election Commission if it was “playing” with the people. The Supreme Court has set up a tribunal to hear appeals by those whose names have been struck off the electoral rolls. The court asked how the FRRO can decide their citizenship.

Meanwhile, in their tiny brick house near the Ganges River in Samserganj’s Dhusaripara, Laltu’s wife Sabera Khatun is now waiting for her husband with a one-year-old baby on her lap.

“I haven’t heard his voice for the past two months. A few days ago, one of our neighbors, who is still working in Chhattisgarh, met them at the detention center. He said they were just crying and asking about our child. He is not allowed to meet anyone from there or call his family,” said Sabera.

Published – 06 Oct 2026 20:17 IST