SIR Brings ‘Missing’ West Bengal Man Back Home After 35 Years

Berhampore: A man who had been missing for the last 35 years returned to his home in West Bengal’s Murshidabad to find his identity proof following the announcement of special intensive revision (SIR) in the state.

Villagers of Khasmahal in Habaspur gram panchayat in Bhagabangola block-II were in disbelief when they met Karim Sheikh, now in his sixties, on the road in the morning on November 1.

According to Karim’s brother Kuddus, his brother disappeared in the nineties after an argument with his wife Mashia Bibi. “We looked everywhere but couldn’t find him. Then we thought he died. Even my sister-in-law sold her property and left the village 5 years ago.”

Karim said, “It is true, I left my village 35 years ago when I was 25, after a fight with my first wife on Eid. After running from the post office, I settled in Bauria in Howrah and got married again. Now I have returned home because I need my voter ID and land documents for the voter list SIR.”

While his neighbors and relatives expressed their happiness to see him, it became a challenge for him how to change his status from ‘dead’ to ‘alive’ after his name was deleted from the voter list.

Additionally, his properties such as land and house were sold by his first wife, who later married another man. Bhagabangola-II Block Development Officer Nazir Hussain said, “I have no information about the incident but I have initiated an investigation into the matter.”