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The Hindu
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
185 people crossed a line
Outside his weathered bhunga, a circular mud hut with a thatched roof, on the outskirts of Zura camp — a sparse, sunbaked stretch of land in Gujarat's Kutch district — Sooroji Kanji Sodha, 70, exhales as if releasing 16 years of apprehension. 'This feels like a second birth,' he says, his voice steady but sombre. He and his wife, Taju Kaur, were recognised as Indian citizens on July 25, along with 183 other Pakistani nationals in Gujarat. In 2009, Sooroji left behind his janmabhoomi (the land of his birth) in Tharparkar district of Pakistan's Sindh province. The decision cost him nearly 40 acres of land, his livestock, and a way of life his family had known for generations. With his wife and eight children, he boarded a train to India in search of dignity and a better future, he says. 'Leaving my watan (country) was never easy,' Sooroji, who now earns ₹300 a day as a daily wager, says. 'But I did it for my children. Especially for my daughters.' The Sodha couple and others received Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA). The CAA Rules were notified in March 2024, just before India's Lok Sabha elections. The CAA provides a pathway to citizenship for persecuted non-Muslim minorities (Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Jain, Buddhist, and Christian) – both documented and undocumented – from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014. Across Rajkot, Morbi, and Kutch districts, many say the wait for citizenship stretches well beyond a decade, forcing families to live in a constant state of legal and social limbo. A man in Morbi who also got Indian citizenship says, 'There we were a minority. Here, until we get our citizenship documents, we are no one.' Just before COVID-19 regulations came into force in March 2020, anti-CAA protests took place across India, claiming that it was discriminatory in nature against Muslims. The Bharatiya Janata Party that leans towards Hindutva and its allies were in power then. The same party is in power now, both at the Centre and in Gujarat. Minority report It was not just religious persecution and looting, Sooroji explains, but the limitations placed on their future as a minority that drove his decision. In his native region, most Rajput families bore the Sodha surname, making it difficult to find suitable matrimonial matches for his children, due to norms that discourage marrying within the same extended clan. 'In Pakistan, there were no Jadejas, no Parmars, no Nadodas for us to marry our children to,' he says, wrapping his yellow turban around his head. 'Those families are in India, not in Pakistan.' Zura camp, where Sooroji lives, was initially set up shortly after Partition in 1947 to accommodate Hindu refugees from the Sindh province. Over time, it has become home to those who migrated during later periods of unrest, especially around the 1971 Indo-Pak war. For many like Sooroji, life in the camp has meant living in limbo — waiting for citizenship, waiting to belong. Clutching his certificate, he says, 'I can now say I am Indian — not just in my heart, but on paper too. Now, I hope my children also get their citizenship based on my documents and can work in this country with pride.' Data accessed from the Directorate of Census Operations, Gandhinagar, reveals that 1,050 Pakistani nationals settled in Gujarat — 537 men and 513 women — are covered under the Act between July 2, 2024 and July 22, 2025. All of them are Hindus, with the highest number in Ahmedabad (433), followed by Rajkot (271), and Patan (133) districts. In addition, separate data from the Gujarat government shows that since 2018, up to 1,386 Pakistani nationals have been granted Indian citizenship through the discretionary powers given to District Collectors. Most of them travelled to India on a visit visa, with no intention of returning. They booked one-way tickets on the now-suspended weekly Thar Express, an international passenger train that ran between Bhagat Ki Kothi in Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Karachi Cantonment in Pakistan. Immigration and customs facilities were located at Munabao railway station on the Indian side. The service was suspended in August 2019 following a deterioration in diplomatic ties between the two countries, after the Indian government revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status and reorganised the State into two Union Territories. Caste consciousness A six-hour drive from Zura camp, in Rajkot, Savitha Fufal, 44, a mother, is getting ready to head out for her wedding anniversary dinner with her husband Vishan and their son Jignesh, 12, on August 5. It is a quiet celebration, a far cry from the life she left behind over a decade ago, she says. In May 2013, just nine months into their marriage, Vishan, now a hotelier, decided to leave Karachi and move to India with seven family members, including Savitha, his mother, sister, and four relatives from his brother's family. Savitha's four siblings still live in Pakistan, and she keeps in touch with them regularly through video calls. Sitting in the small living room of their rented home, Savitha recalls the emotional weight of leaving her country. 'It was hard to leave,' she says, 'but living there wasn't easy either.' The couple initially came to India on a tourist visa and later applied for and kept renewing their Long-Term Visa (LTV). 'Things weren't safe there, especially for women. We lived in fear of theft, religious persecution and general insecurity. That's when we decided it was time to leave.' Savitha is one of four people who were granted citizenship under the discretionary powers of the District Collectors. 'I'm proud to call myself an Indian now,' she says with a smile. She adds that her husband's brother and his family eventually returned to Karachi after spending some time in India. 'They weren't comfortable here. They felt more connected to their relatives back home,' she says. Savitha remembers that she was not able to attend her father's funeral in 2015. 'I could only go in 2017, after we managed to get a visa for my son too,' she says. Her husband has never gone back. The family belongs to a community in India classified as a Scheduled Caste (SC). However, due to the absence of documentation, her son will not get any of the social welfare benefits that the community can claim. Another migrant-turned-citizen, Manoj Parmar, 49, who works at a petrol station in Rajkot, says he became aware of the caste system — and that his community falls under the Scheduled Castes — only after arriving in India. His great-grandfather had migrated from Botad to Karachi in search of work following a severe drought, and eventually settled there. Before moving to India in February 2012, Manoj worked at the Karachi Electric Supply Company. 'There, even my subordinate would refuse to follow my work instructions and insult me because of my religion. I thought, 'If this is my condition despite being educated, what will happen to my children?' The situation was only going to get worse, so I came to India,' he says. 'Now, my children want reservation rights.' Rules and regulations The CAA Rules authorise Central government officials stationed in States — including those from the Directorate of Census Operations, India Post, Railways, National Informatics Centre (NIC), and Intelligence Bureau (IB) — to handle and process citizenship applications. Once an application is submitted online, the applicant is required to appear before a District Level Committee headed by the Superintendent of Post Office as the designated officer. The committee also includes representatives from the NIC, IB, Railways, and the district administration. 'The process is usually completed within a couple of weeks, including antecedent verification by IB, but if there are errors in the application — such as mismatched names or issues with supporting documents — applicants are informed and asked to make the necessary corrections before resubmitting,' says an officer from the India Post in Bhuj. According to the official, 18 people from the Kutch district have been granted citizenship under the CAA so far, and another 97 applications are in the pipeline. 'District officials have informed us that now only 115 Pakistani nationals are in Kutch, including the 97 whose applications are currently pending. The rest have not applied yet,' the official adds. Waiting for the gates to open For the children of those who have waited for citizenship, life means growing up in a country they call home, yet don't belong. They cannot take admission in government schools, and have no access to reservations in education and jobs. Sending children abroad is complex. Sooroji's younger brother, Laxmansinh Sodha, 53, a graduate of Karachi Medical College with an MBBS degree, who now runs a clinic in Morbi, says he had hoped to send his son Mehtabsinh, 17, — who qualified for NEET — to Russia to study medicine, after facing issues with admission in India due to incomplete documentation. 'But that too didn't work out because he doesn't have an Indian passport.' His education shows he is from India, while his passport is from Pakistan. 'Now, we've enrolled him in an LLB programme at a private university here. His citizenship is still pending.' Laxmansinh migrated to India in November 2012 and was granted citizenship earlier this year. His first visit to India was in 1971, he recalls, when he was just six months old. During the Indo-Pak war, his parents fled to India and took shelter in the Zura camp for nearly three years. However, due to limited facilities at the camp and a lack of livelihood options, the family eventually returned to Tharparkar in Pakistan. 'I practised medicine there for nearly 10 years, and left everything behind and came to India, fearing forced conversions and attacks on Hindus,' he explains. Sitting beside him is Netsinh Sodha, 56, who once worked as a patwari (village accountant) in Tharparkar district. He left his government job and migrated to India with his wife and seven children in May 2014. Now settled in Morbi, he runs a cloth shop and is among those who have been granted Indian citizenship. While Netsinh welcomes CAA, he raises concerns about the implementation process, alleging that staff involved in handling applications often harass applicants. 'The Act clearly states that even a single document or visa entry stamp is enough to apply for citizenship under CAA, yet many officials lack clarity on the provisions. As a result, many migrants are facing unnecessary hurdles,' he says. 'Applicants are being forced to submit their forms five to 10 times over minor issues. This is something the government must urgently address.' He says many Hindus are still 'stuck' in the neighbouring country and are waiting for the authorities to start issuing visas again. In April 2025, after the Pahalgam attack, India suspended visa services to Pakistani nationals. Edited by Sunalini Mathew
Time of India
03-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
12 owners asked to raze rickety houses in Sonar Fort
Jaisalmer: Municipal commissioner Lajpal Singh Sodha Saturday issued notices to owners of 12 dilapidated houses, instructing them to dismantle structures, in Sonar Fort, Jaisalmer district. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Sodha said an inspection of the fort and surrounding dilapidated houses was carried out, after which the owners were advised to dismantle the structures in an orderly manner. "Owners were given three days to comply with the order. If the owners fail to undertake necessary actions and the buildings collapse, they will be held responsible for any damage caused by the debris." Additionally, owners of other dilapidated and dangerous buildings within the municipal area have been notified to dismantle them promptly to prevent any untoward incidents during the monsoon season. A final notice is being issued, referencing Section 243(3) of the Municipal Act 2009, which states that if the owners do not dismantle the buildings despite the notice, the municipality will proceed with the demolition and recover the associated costs from the owners.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Time of India
Big Bite: Constable gets 5 years in jail for taking bribe, chewing evidence
Ahmedabad: In a case where forensic science played a decisive role despite an attempt to destroy physical evidence, a special court in Bhuj on Friday sentenced a suspended police constable to five years of rigorous imprisonment for accepting a bribe and attempting to destroy the evidence — currency notes — by chewing them. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The court found Mayursinh Sodha, then a constable at Vayor police station in West Kutch, guilty of demanding and accepting a Rs 4,000 bribe from a farmer in 2020 in exchange for not filing a case against him under the Prohibition Act. The case unfolded on July 21, 2020, after the farmer approached the Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and accused Sodha of demanding a bribe to let him off in connection with a case related to an illegal country liquor manufacturing unit. The ACB laid a trap and gave the complainant four currency notes laced with phenolphthalein powder — a chemical used to detect bribe acceptance. The notes were to be handed over to Sodha outside the police station. As soon as Sodha accepted the notes, the ACB team moved in to apprehend him. In a panic, Sodha stuffed the notes into his mouth and began chewing them in an apparent attempt to destroy the evidence. Despite his actions, ACB officials managed to retrieve the partially chewed currency notes and sent them to the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory (DFSL), Gandhinagar, for analysis. Forensic experts conducted chemical and DNA tests on the recovered notes, confirming the presence of phenolphthalein and establishing a DNA match with Sodha — thereby validating the bribery charge. Based on the investigation and forensic evidence, the ACB filed a chargesheet in the Bhuj court, which held Sodha guilty under multiple provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act (1988, as amended in 2018) and the Indian Penal Code. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment for bribery and misuse of official position, along with additional imprisonment and fines for attempting to destroy evidence. The court observed that despite being a public servant, Sodha not only demanded a bribe but also made a desperate attempt to eliminate proof. The judgment emphasised that such actions erode public trust in the police force and must be dealt with sternly. Sodha has also been fined Rs 10,500 and faces additional jail time if he fails to pay it.
Hindustan Times
30-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Thar desert, empty jerry can: How ‘thirst' ended Pakistani couple's India dream in Rajasthan
A teen couple from Pakistan, facing opposition from their families, decided to cross the border and make a living for themselves in India. However, their choice to go the 'illegal' way after visa rejection resulted in their deaths in the desert in Rajasthan. Postmortem examination of the couple's bodies have been completed, the official said, adding that last rites will be undertaken by local authorities.(X/@maheshmvasu) After facing several hurdles to secure an Indian visa and facing rejection in the process, the 17-year-old boy and the 15-year-old girl made a desperate decision and set off on foot to cross into India via the Thar desert route, a news agency PTI report said. Despite harsh conditions, the minor couple managed to cross into Jaisalmer. However, the climatic situation did not support them in their journey. The duo reportedly died due to dehydration, a local activist said. 'Empty jerry can, decomposed bodies' Police found the teenagers' decomposed bodies, with an empty jerry can near the boy's face, in the Tanot area on Saturday, June 28. Superintendent of Police (SP) Chaudhary said that the boy's body was found under a tree, clad in a sky-blue salwar and kurta. An empty jerry can, which likely contained water earlier, was found near his face. Police also discovered a yellow scarf and a mobile phone near his body. The girl's body was found around 50 feet away from the boy. She was wearing a yellow ghaghra (traditional skirt) and kurta, and red and white bangles. Police said that both bodies were found in a face-down position and had decomposed beyond the possibility of facial recognition. Chaudhary said that both bodies appeared to be several days old, having turned black due to decomposition. Prima facie, he said, the couple died due to dehydration. ALSO READ | Pakistani immigrant kills wife in Navi Mumbai, dies by suicide The Pakistani identification cards found near the bodies led the police to identify their nationality. Why did the couple illegally cross into India? Dilip Singh Sodha, district coordinator of Seemant Lok Sangathan, said the boy hailed from Pakistan's Sindh province. He had applied for a pilgrimage visa to India almost 1.5 years ago. The Seemant Lok Sangathan is a rights advocacy group for Pakistani minority migrants in the country. When the boy lost all hopes of securing an Indian visa, Sodha said, he decided to cross the border with his wife. "He wanted to live in India. He somehow entered Indian territory but unfortunately died in the hope of a better life," said Sodha. The official circulated details of the deceased' ID cards on social media and came in contact with the boy's relatives in Jaisalmer, who later confirmed his identity. As per the boy's relatives, his bike was found around 20 km away from the body, and the bodies were found about 12-13 km inside India. "It suggests that they walked in the desert for several kilometres. They had a jerry can which was found close to boy's face. It indicates that they had run out of water and died due to dehydration," Sodha said. Additionally, Jaisalmer Circle officer Roop Singh Inda said that police have sought information on the boy's visa application from the local foreigners registration office. "We have not received any details about it so far," he was quoted as saying by the news agency. Postmortem examination of the couple's bodies have been completed, the official said, adding that last rites will be undertaken by local authorities. Further investigation into the tragic incident is underway.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Time of India
Pakistani couple's India dream ends in tragedy as they die of thirst while crossing border
A young Pakistani couple, desperate for a new life in India after being unable to secure a visa, tragically attempted to cross the Thar desert border on foot. The 17-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl succumbed to dehydration in the harsh conditions near Jaisalmer. Their bodies were discovered days later, highlighting the perilous journey and their yearning for a better future. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A minor couple from Pakistan, eager to start anew in India, faced a significant hurdle - securing an Indian visa. In an act of desperation, they embarked on a journey, crossing the border that goes through Thar desert on 17-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl braved the harsh conditions, managing to cross into Jaisalmer. Tragically, the unforgiving environment ultimately proved fatal, with the couple reportedly succumbing to dehydration, according to a local decomposed bodies were found in the Tanot area on June of Police (SP) Chaudhary said that the boy's body was found under a tree. He was wearing a sky-blue salwar kurta. A yellow scarf and a mobile phone were also found near the body, with an empty jerry can, possibly containing water earlier, near his 50 feet away, police found the body of the girl wearing a yellow ghaghra-kurta and red-and-white bangles. Both bodies were lying face-down and had decayed to the point that facial recognition was not said that both bodies appeared to be several days old, having turned black due to decomposition. Prima facie, they died due to dehydration, he identification cards were found near the to Dilip Singh Sodha, district coordinator of Seemant Lok Sangathan , the boy hailed from Pakistan's Sindh province and had applied for a pilgrimage visa to India nearly one and a half years said when the boy lost all hope of securing the Indian visa, he, along with his wife, decided to cross the border."He wanted to live in India. He somehow entered Indian territory but unfortunately died in the hope of a better life," said Sodha, who circulated the details of the ID cards on social media and came in contact with the boy's relatives in Jaisalmer, who confirmed his Lok Sangathan is an advocacy group for the rights of Pakistani minority migrants in details of the arduous journey taken by both, Sodha said that as per his relatives, the boy's bike was found nearly 20 km away from the border, and their bodies were found about 12-13 km inside India."It suggests that they walked in the desert for several kilometres. They had a jerry can which was found close to boy's face. It indicates that they had run out of water and died due to dehydration," he Circle officer Roop Singh Inda said that the police have sought information from the local foreigners registration office (FRO) in Jaisalmer on the boy's visa application."We have not received details about it so far," Inda officer said that postmortem was conducted and the last rites will be undertaken by the local authorities."The matter is being investigated further," he said.
