After illegal mosque row, Himachal Muslims in spotlight over ‘fake’ Aadhaar, majority share same date of birth

Shimla: In the wake of the recent mosque dispute in Himachal Pradesh, a new controversy has emerged, putting the Muslim community under scrutiny once again.
This time, the issue revolves around the Aadhaar cards of Muslim businessmen from outside states, particularly those residing in the Gumma Bazaar area of Shimla district.

The controversy erupted after a large number of individuals were found sharing the same date of birth on their Aadhaar cards, raising suspicions of document forgery. Such cases have surfaced in Kangra too.

Complaint lodged with Kotkhai police

The Gumma Beopar Mandal has taken the matter seriously, lodging a formal complaint with the Kotkhai police station. In their complaint, they Beopar Mandal submitted documents of 88 businessmen for investigation, alleging irregularities.

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According to the Beopar Mandal, 46 out of the 88 individuals, mostly from Uttar Pradesh, have the same date of birth — January 1 — though the birth years differ. The list also includes four Hindu businessmen from outside states, adding a broader dimension to the controversy.

Another peculiar pattern come to fore

The Beopar Mandal highlighted an unsettling pattern: even Muslim youths born between 2001 and 2009 have listed January 1 as their date of birth.

“While it is plausible that some individuals might not remember their exact birth date and default to January 1, it’s highly unlikely that so many people, especially younger ones, would share the same date. This raises serious concerns about the authenticity of these documents,” said a mandal leader.

The controversy has prompted calls for a thorough investigation, with the Gumma Beopar Mandal demanding that the Kotkhai police and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate look into the matter. The situation has heightened tensions, particularly in the aftermath of the mosque dispute over illegal expansion in Sanjauli, Mandi and other parts of Himachal Pradesh, which had already stirred communal sentiments across the state.