70-Year-Old Soro Woman Served ‘Leave India’ Notice After 57 Years

Soro (Balasore): Confusion and distress have gripped the family of 70-year-old Razia Sultan, a long-time resident of Soro in Balasore district, after she was unexpectedly served a ‘Leave India’ notice. Razia, who has been living in India for the past 57 years, insists she holds all valid identity documents issued by the Government of India and has no connection to Pakistan.

Visibly distraught, Razia explained that she has been a government pension holder and possesses no Pakistani documents. Her son shared that Razia was born in Bihar and moved to Soro with her father, Haider Ali, before marrying and settling permanently in the town. The family asserts they have all necessary documentation to prove her Indian residency.

Questions have arisen over her father’s past, with officials pointing out that Haider Ali had reportedly accepted Pakistani citizenship. However, Razia’s son stated that the family has no information regarding his current whereabouts. He expressed deep concern about Razia’s future, saying, “Where will she go if sent to Pakistan? Who will take care of her? She has lived here all her life and suffers from several health issues.”

Razia, a widow since 2023 after the death of her husband Samsuddin due to cancer, now lives with her two sons, their wives, and a five-year-old granddaughter. “After staying here for 57 years, how can she suddenly be asked to leave? She never even travelled to Pakistan, nor does she hold a visa or passport,” said her daughter-in-law.

The notice to Razia comes amid a broader government action. Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania confirmed on Saturday that 12 Pakistani nationals have been identified as residing in different parts of Odisha.

According to sources, Pakistani nationals were located in Cuttack’s Lalbag, Darghabazar, Mangalabag, and Tigiria areas. In Bhubaneswar, a Pakistani woman, Nagma Yusuf—who had been living in BJB Nagar since marrying an Indian citizen in 2008 on a long-term visa—left the city today after receiving a similar ‘Leave India’ notice.

This crackdown follows the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, prompting the Government of India to cancel visas issued to Pakistani nationals across 14 categories. All Pakistani nationals living in Odisha have been instructed to leave the country by April 27. Authorities have warned that those who fail to comply will be treated as overstaying foreign nationals and may face penal action.