Latest news with #RaziaSultana
New Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Odisha woman defies notice for deportation, police in a fix
BHUBANESWAR: The police administration is in a fix after 72-year-old Razia Sultana of Soro in Balasore district The notice was served in the wake of the Centre's directive to all states to identify Pakistani nationals and ensure their immediate return following the recent terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Kashmir. However, Razia's refusal has complicated matters for the local authorities, as she maintains that she is an Indian citizen by birth. With kidney ailments and other health issues, Razia has been bedridden ever since she received the notice. Her family members said the development came as a shock, threatening to separate her from her children at a time when she needs their care the most. Born in Kolkata in 1953 to Haider Ali, a native of Bihar who later moved to Bangladesh and Pakistan, Razia had married Sk Samsuddin of Pathan Mahala in Soro in 1981. She has since been living in the town along with her son and daughter even after her husband's death. Razia's daughter Salma Parbin said she does not know anyone in Pakistan. 'My mother has never even travelled outside India. Neither does she have a passport nor a visa. How can they send her away to an unknown land? She is sick and has an appointment with doctors at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on May 10. We have appealed to the district administration to withdraw the notice,' she said. Balasore SP Raj Prasad said Razia was served the deportation notice based on official records that indicate she is not an Indian citizen. 'She may have obtained Aadhaar and other documents, but as per law, she should have formally applied for Indian citizenship if she claims to have been residing here for so long. We will inform the government and take action as per further instructions,' he added.
New Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
72-year-old 'India-born' Odisha woman served notice to leave India over Pakistan link
BHUBANESWAR: The family of 72-year-old Razia Sultana is in shock ever since the Balasore district administration issued a notice to her to leave India and return to Pakistan on or before Sunday. The notice came in the wake of Centre's directive to states to identify Pakistani nationals and ensure their immediate return following the in Kashmir. Razia and her family members who reside at Pathan Mahala under Soro police limits insisted that there has been a grave mistake as she is an Indian citizen by birth. 'I was born here. This is my soil. I will stay here and die here,' said Razia, clutching her identity documents. Struggling with multiple illnesses, including kidney ailments, Razia's frail health has worsened ever since the notice arrived. Family members said she is in a state of fear and has hardly slept or eaten in the last 24 hours. Razia's father Haider Ali used to live in Bihar and Kolkata. He was married in Kazimahala in Soro. Of his three daughters, the middle Razia was born in Kolkata in 1953. She was married to Sk Samsuddin of Pathan Mahala, who is no more. Later, Haider went to Bangladesh and then Pakistan, where he took citizenship. 'But my mother was born and married here. She has never been to Pakistan even once in her life. She has an Aadhaar card, voter ID, PAN card and a residence certificate. She has no Pakistani document or visa. How can they ask her to leave?' wondered her daughter Salma Parbin. Expressing shock over the notice, they have requested the administration to re-examine and withdraw it. Attempts to contact the district SP over the matter proved futile.
