Bihar to Probe ‘Missing’ Pakistani Visitors Who Arrived Between 1995 and 2015

Patna: The Bihar government has decided to initiate an inquiry into the whereabouts of Pakistani nationals who visited the state on religious trips between 1995 and 2015, after it was revealed that district administrations have no clear record of their movements or return.

Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Samrat Choudhary informed the Bihar Assembly on Monday that a total of 173 foreign nationals visited Bihar for religious purposes during the 20-year period, of which 167 were from Pakistan. The remaining visitors reportedly came from the United Kingdom, Russia, and Uzbekistan.

While the government claimed that all visitors returned to their respective countries, it admitted that district-level authorities do not have specific information regarding the Pakistani visitors. The disclosure has raised concerns over whether some of them may have stayed back in Bihar illegally.

Government Responds to BJP MLA’s Question

The Deputy Chief Minister provided the information in response to a question raised by BJP MLA Mithilesh Tiwari, who expressed concern about foreign nationals entering the state under the guise of tourism or religious pilgrimage and later blending into local communities without proper verification or long-term tracking.

Tiwari pointed out that such visitors sometimes remain in the country and their official identity gradually becomes unclear at the local level.

‘All Foreign Visitors Are Monitored,’ Says Home Minister

Samrat Choudhary assured the House that every foreign citizen visiting Bihar is monitored and the government ensures that no criminal activity is carried out during their stay. He said immigration officials and other security agencies work in coordination, and immediate action is taken whenever any suspicious activity is reported.

Gopalganj Mentioned in the Debate

During the discussion, MLA Mithilesh Tiwari referred to his constituency, stating that Gopalganj district has no major religious centre except the Thawe Temple, yet the presence of foreign nationals is often noticed in the area.

This has now triggered speculation over whether some Pakistani visitors may have quietly settled in Bihar, prompting the state government to order further verification and investigation.