AGRA: A 65-year-old Pakistani woman was found running the affairs of a village panchayat as your interim boss at UP’s Etah district, a revelation that shocked local police and administration. An investigation was ordered to find out how he obtained the Aadhaar, voter identification and other documents while on a long-term visa. An FIR has also been filed against him.
Bano Begum, a resident of Karachi, Pakistan, came to India 35 years ago at his relative’s home in Etah. Later, she married a local, Akhtar Ali. Since then, he had stayed in Etah on a long-term visa and had applied for Indian citizenship on several occasions.
During the 2015 local body elections, Bano managed to be elected a member of the Guadau gram panchayat. Five years later, on January 9 of this year, the pradhan, Shehnaz Begum, passed away. And after a few days, Bano took over as acting pradhan on the recommendation of the village committee.
According to sources, the issue came to the fore after a villager, Quwaidan Khan, filed a complaint saying that Bano is a citizen of Pakistan.
Although Bano resigned from the post, District Officer Panchayati Raj (DPRO) Alok Priyadarshi raised the matter with Etah District Magistrate (DM) Sukhlal Bharti, who ordered a FIR and investigation.
DPRO Priyadarshi said: “The investigation based on a complaint received against Bano Begum found that she is a citizen of Pakistan. He obtained an Aadhaar card and voter ID in his name by fraudulent means. ”
He said that the recommendation to appoint Bano as head of the village committee and to appoint her as interim pradhan was made by the village secretary, Dhyanpal Singh. He has been removed from office.
DM Bharti said: “Orders have been issued to investigate how he managed to obtain an Aadhaar card and other documents to contest the election to become a member of the gram panchayat. Strict measures will be taken against those guilty of helping her. ”
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