Special Intensive Revision: Delhi Police Takes Major Action Ahead of SIR, 20 Bangladeshi Nationals Apprehended

In a significant pre-emptive strike, Delhi Police have apprehended twenty Bangladeshi nationals who were found to be residing illegally in the national capital. This major action by the police comes just before the commencement of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Delhi. The arrested individuals were reportedly living in India without proper documentation, and Indian identity cards were also recovered from their possession, raising concerns about their attempts to establish false identities within the country. This operation underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to identify and deport illegal immigrants, particularly in the context of upcoming electoral processes.

Crackdown on Illegal Immigrants

Across various states in India, a continuous search is underway for foreign nationals residing illegally, with a particular focus on Bangladeshi immigrants, while police and security agencies are actively engaged in campaigns to identify such individuals, arrest them, and facilitate their repatriation to Bangladesh. The Delhi Police's recent success in apprehending twenty Bangladeshi nationals is a crucial step in this broader national effort. The individuals arrested had no legal documents to justify their stay in India. The recovery of Indian identity cards from them suggests an attempt to pose as Indian citizens, which constitutes a serious violation of national security and citizenship laws, while this crackdown not only helps in curbing illegal immigration but also contributes to ensuring the integrity of the upcoming SIR process.

Understanding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) periodically conducts Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaigns to update and purify electoral rolls. This comprehensive process involves adding the names of new eligible voters, removing the names of deceased voters, and deleting entries for those who have relocated or are no longer citizens of India. The primary objective of SIR is to create a clean and accurate voter list, which forms the bedrock of free and fair elections. This meticulous procedure ensures that only valid and eligible citizens are able to exercise their democratic right to vote, thereby upholding the sanctity of the electoral system.

Significance of SIR in Delhi

The Election Commission of India has designated Delhi for the third phase of the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists, while prior to this, the first phase of SIR was successfully conducted in Bihar, followed by the second phase which is currently underway in twelve other states across the country. The SIR process in Delhi holds particular significance because, according to available information, it has been. More than 20 years since the last such intensive revision was carried out in the capital. After such a long interval, widespread changes in the voter list are highly anticipated. During this period, many voters would have either passed away or moved out of the city. Plus, the possibility of illegal residents attempting to enroll themselves in the voter list remains a concern, which this revision process aims to address and rectify.

Potential for Large-Scale Name Deletions

Drawing from the experiences of SIR in other states, it's highly probable that millions of names could be removed from Delhi's voter list, while a significant portion of these deletions is expected to be individuals who are deceased or have relocated outside Delhi. On top of that, in light of cases like the recent apprehension of illegal Bangladeshi nationals by the police, there is also a strong possibility that names of such illegal immigrants, who might have managed to get their identities registered in the voter list, will be removed. This process will enhance the credibility of the electoral roll and ensure that only genuine and eligible citizens participate in the nation's democratic process. The Delhi Police's action, preceding the SIR process, serves as a crucial step in curbing illegal elements and ensuring a more accurate and secure electoral environment.