Congress minority wing seeks criminal cases over alleged misuse of SIR Form 7 in Dakshina Kannada

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 6, 2026: Leaders of the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Minority Wing have urged the Deputy Commissioner to register criminal cases against those allegedly misusing SIR Form 7 to seek deletion of minority voters’ names from the electoral rolls.

The delegation submitted a complaint to Additional Deputy Commissioner Raju K. at the DC’s office in Padil on Monday. Speaking to reporters, Minority Wing president Shahul Hameed alleged that pre-printed Form 7 applications had been submitted from BJP offices in Belthangady and Puttur seeking deletion of Muslim and Christian voters from the electoral rolls.

He said documents were available to support the allegation and demanded criminal action against those responsible.

Hameed also urged the authorities to scrutinise the large number of Form 7 applications submitted constituency-wise. Applications should be examined particularly closely if an unusually high number have been filed by the same individual, group or organisation, he said.

He claimed that BJP-related applications had been found seeking deletion of the names of 275 minority voters in a few booths in Belthangady and 19 minority voters in two booths in Puttur.

While Form 7 provides for objections to the inclusion of a person’s name in the electoral roll, the guidelines make it clear that the applicant is responsible for providing evidence supporting the reason cited for deletion, Hameed said.

He alleged that the BJP in the Puttur Assembly constituency had submitted applications to the election authorities on party letterhead seeking deletion of minority voters’ names.

The delegation included Minority Wing general secretary Alvin Prakash Sikkera, vice-presidents George T.V. and Sabita Miskith, SC/ST Wing district president Dinesh Muluru, treasurer Mohammed Bappalige, former corporator Abdul Rauf and B. Habeebulla Khalid Pulabe.