Muslim Voters Allegedly Marked as ‘Dead’ in India’s Gujarat State

Muslim Voters Allegedly Marked as ‘Dead’ in India’s Gujarat State
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Muslim voters in India’s western state of Gujarat have raised concerns about alleged voter suppression after discovering their names were flagged for deletion from electoral rolls during an ongoing revision process, with some reportedly recorded as dead or displaced despite being alive and residing at the same address.

According to the Muslim Network TV, the complaints have emerged from the Jamalpur Assembly constituency in Ahmedabad, a densely populated urban area with a significant Muslim electorate. According to local media reports, residents found their names listed for removal under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, even after submitting required verification documents.

At the center of the controversy is the alleged misuse of Form 7, a mechanism intended to remove names due to death, relocation, or duplication. Community representatives say objections were filed against Muslim voters by unrelated third parties, sometimes from different polling areas.

Among the cases cited is Arab Farid Miyan, a resident of Ward 19, who was reportedly declared dead in an objection that did not match his voter details. Rafiq Sheikh Qureshi, an elected municipal councillor from Ward 21, was also flagged for deletion over an alleged address change.

Minority groups say the volume and pattern of objections point to coordinated action rather than administrative error. Formal complaints have been submitted to election authorities, calling for stricter verification, legal action against false objectors, and an official inquiry. Election officials have not yet publicly responded.