Living in Odisha for three decades, Pak-born woman gets exit notice: ‘Have no one there'

Indian Express

27-04-2025

Among those hit by the Centre's decision to revoke visas issued to Pakistan nationals is 55-year-old Pakistan-born Sarada Bai, who is married to an Indian citizen and has been living in Odisha for more than three decades.
Sarada Bai — Sarada Kukreja after marriage — was born in Sukkur city in Pakistan's Sindh province in 1970, according to her Pakistani passport. She said the district police sent her an exit notice stating that she neither has a long-term visa or falls under exempted categories. The police order warned her of legal action if she failed to leave the country.
Sarada said her father came to India on a 60-day visa with his six children in 1987 and settled in Odisha's Koraput district. Sarada got married to a businessman in Bolangir about 35 years back, and now has a son and a daughter and two grandchildren, who are Indian citizens.
Sarada, who claims to have a Voter ID and an Aadhaar card, said she applied for Indian citizenship long back but has not been able to get it.
The letter issued by the Bolangir Superintendent of Police on Saturday said: 'As per our available record, you neither have a valid LTV [long-term visa] nor come under the above exempted category of visas. Hence, you are directed to quit India at the earliest as deemed proper failing which legal action will be taken against you.'
Speaking to reporters, she requested the government to not separate her from her family and said she had no one in Pakistan. 'Ever since I came here, I have considered India my country. My family is in India and I don't want to go to Pakistan. I have never even spoken to anyone in Pakistan, even over the phone.'
According to officials, the state government has issued exit notices to 12 Pakistani nationals residing in Odisha for years in various districts. While many of them have been staying on long-term visas, some have been staying without valid documents.
'We have issued notices and asked them to leave the country as per the decision of the government of India. If they fail to do so, appropriate action will be taken against them,' said a senior police officer.
One of these people is from Bhubaneswar, said the city's Deputy Commissioner Jagmohan Meena. Three such notices have been issued in Cuttack and one in Balasore, according to officials.