April 26th 2025.
In Bolangir, a small district in Odisha, a 53-year-old woman named Sharada Kukreja is facing a heartbreaking situation. After living in India for 35 years, she has been issued a notice by the police to leave the country. Sharada, originally from Pakistan, married an Indian citizen named Mahesh Kumar Kukreja and has two adult children who are also married.
Sharada's story is one of courage and resilience. She was born in the city of Sukkur in Pakistan's Sindh province, but fled to India at a young age to escape forced conversion and marriage to a Muslim man. She arrived in Odisha's Koraput district with her four sisters and five brothers in 1987, and later settled in Bolangir after her marriage. Despite facing many challenges, Sharada has built a life for herself and her family in India.
However, recently, Sharada received a notice from the Bolangir Superintendent of Police, Abilash G, asking her to leave the country "at the earliest". This came as a shock to Sharada and her family as she has been living in India for 35 years and has an Aadhaar card and has participated in elections. When asked about this, the SP stated that they need to verify her claims before taking any further action.
This situation has arisen due to the recent tensions between India and Pakistan after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. As a result, the Indian government has announced that all visas issued to Pakistani nationals will be revoked from April 27, and these individuals have been asked to leave the country. Sharada, who still holds a Pakistani passport, is technically a citizen of that country despite living in India for most of her life.
Sharada is deeply attached to her family and cannot imagine being separated from them at this age. She has no one in Pakistan and has not visited the country since 1987. She is hopeful that the Indian government will consider her case and grant her Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act. She pleads with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to not separate her from her husband and children.
The state government has identified 12 Pakistani nationals residing in Odisha and has asked them to leave the country by April 27. Among them is a woman married to a shop owner in Bhubaneswar since 2008. Her long-term visa expired in 2024, and after her application for an extension was rejected, she obtained a visitor visa. However, she has now been served a leave country notice and has been ordered to leave India by April 27.
The Bhubaneswar DCP, Jagmohan Meena, stated that they have received an order from the Centre to revoke all visas allotted to Pakistani nationals, and they are taking necessary action. He also mentioned that they have verified the identity of the woman and have approved her country exit permit.
Sharada's situation is a reminder of the struggles faced by many individuals who are caught in the crossfire of political tensions. She has built a life for herself and her family in India and hopes to continue living here with her loved ones. She appeals to the authorities to consider her case and allow her to stay in the country she now calls home.
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