Over 2k in Sandeshkhali marked ‘not Indian’; TMC, ISF blame BJP
Times of India | 30 January 2026
Kolkata: Over 2,000 residents of a Sandeshkhali gram panchayat have received ‘not Indian citizens' notices, allegedly on the basis of Form-7 submissions by BJP workers seeking deletion of their names from voters' list. On Thursday, the EC sought a report from North 24 Parganas DM following complaints lodged by TMC and ISF.
The notices, which have been arriving for a few days now, have triggered anxiety among the residents on Boyarmari-2 gram panchayat. Labelled "non-Indian", Aminul Sheikh said, "We are Indians, and we have documentary proof. Names of all my family members were on the 2002 SIR list. Yet, BJP wrote to the EC, and just like that we became non-Indians."
Echoing the anger, Nilufa Parvin said, "On what basis did the EC put our names under suspicion? We heard BJP submitted Form-7s against us. This is humiliating." Another resident, Kutubuddin Tarafdar, said, "I voted in the last election. Now I am being told that I am not an Indian."
TMC MLA Sukumar Mahata called the episode a "BJP conspiracy" and an attempt to "erase people's identities".
ISF MLA Nawsad Siddique raised the issue with the CEO.
BJP's Sandeshkhali-3 mandal chief Robin Das said, "The number of infiltrators has increased in Sandeshkhali during TMC's time in office. That is why we submitted Form-7s." North 24 Parganas DM Shashank Shetty and Basirhat SDO Jasleen Kaur declined to comment on the issue.