Controversy Erupts Over Ghaziabad Police's Citizenship Verification Methods
Citizenship Verification Campaign in Ghaziabad
In Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, a campaign aimed at verifying the identities of suspected illegal immigrants is currently underway. Amidst this initiative, a video surfaced online showing police allegedly using a machine for citizenship checks. The woman featured in the footage, Roshni Khatun, has come forward to clarify the situation. In an interview with a private news channel, she explained that police visited her neighborhood and requested identification documents. However, she firmly stated that no machine was present, nor was any used by the authorities.
Roshni, originally from Bihar, also mentioned that the man seen with her in the video is her brother-in-law.
Police Interaction and Community Response
Roshni recounted that the police initially questioned her in a somewhat intimidating manner, but the atmosphere later shifted to a more casual conversation. She emphasized that her entire family has lived in the same slum area of Ghaziabad for many years and hails from the Araria district of Bihar. She urged that the police should not be unfairly targeted, as their conduct was not inappropriate. The viral video shows Ghaziabad police asking for identification from the man standing next to Roshni. When he mentioned his Bihar origins, a police officer jokingly remarked that they had a machine to verify his actual place of residence.
Political Reactions to the Incident
The viral video has drawn reactions from various political figures, including Asaduddin Owaisi, who responded on Twitter. He shared a media report titled 'Ghaziabad police officer uses device to check man's nationality, tells him he is from Bangladesh,' and commented that the same device should be used on the officer to determine if he possesses any common sense. Owaisi described the incident as a clear manifestation of hatred and communal discrimination, highlighting that the victim's name is Muhammad Sadiq, also from Araria, Bihar.
Public Sentiment and Ongoing Discussions
The same device should be put on the Cops head to see if his first floor has
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) January 2, 2026
cerebrum,this is a clear example of hatred & communal bias as the victims name is Muhammad Sadiq of Araria Bihar
Ghaziabad cop uses device to ‘test’ man’s nationality, tells him he is 'from…