Far away from Iran is the Garhwa district of Jharkhand in India, where the 38 members of an Iranian - origin family are facing the heat of the Election Commission scheme- Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

These 38 Iran -origin family members live opposite Garhwa railway station. They have received notices issued by the district administration, seeking to show their identity.

The Garhwa administration is scrutinising the benefits extended to this family under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). Two houses were sanctioned for its members and constructed on their 15-decimal plot. The family has a permanent land deed, and the property has been mutated.

The family members possess voter ID, Aadhaar, and PAN Cards, besides ration cards, caste, income, and residential certificates. Their two houses have electricity connections.

Inquiry revealed that Baba Khan, father-in- law of Gulshan Bibi, had come to Garhwa in 1921. Other relatives joined later, and the family has since grown to 38 members. “They initially lived in makeshift huts and worked as daily wagers”, Gulshan Bibi said.

Another family member said that the names of 21 relatives appeared in the 2008 electoral roll. However, the family has no documents to establish citizenship. Notices have been issued by the Garhwa district administration in connection with the inclusion of their names in the electoral roll during the SIR.

Garhwa Booth Level Officer and Additional Electoral Registration Officer of the Garhwa Assembly constituency, Kumar Mayank Bhushan, is quoted as having told the reporter of The Times of India that the process of inviting and deciding claims and objections was underway.

As per the TOI report, Garhwa Deputy Commissioner cum District Election Officer Pashupati Nath Mishra said that documents of all electors, including these family members of Iranian origin, are being examined thoroughly.