SRINAGAR: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have ramped up efforts to address the issue of “illegal” Rohingya “immigrants” in the region. Measures include disconnecting electricity and water supplies to plots and semi-constructed houses where the immigrants are residing, aiming to force their relocation and deter further influx, reports appearing in the media suggest.
Officials have expressed concerns about potential security risks and an alleged agenda to alter the demographic composition of Jammu through these settlements. For the last many years, the Rohingyas have been in the news off and on. Some of them, almost 155, are living in a jail as well.
The police and intelligence agencies have uncovered evidence pointing to the involvement of certain Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and individuals in facilitating the migration of Rohingyas from Myanmar to Jammu. Many of these groups are believed to have assisted in relocating the immigrants through states like West Bengal and Assam. Some of these NGOs, reportedly based in Kashmir, have been accused of deliberately working to settle the Rohingyas in Jammu to achieve twin objectives: sheltering them and influencing the demographic makeup of the region, according to a piece of detailed news that appeared in Jammu newspaper, Daily Excelsior.
Investigations revealed that these NGOs not only helped the immigrants find accommodation but also assisted them in integrating into local systems by securing crucial documents such as Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and domicile certificates. This enabled the Rohingyas to establish a semblance of legitimacy, exacerbating the challenges faced by law enforcement in identifying and displacing them.
The presence of Rohingyas in Jammu has raised alarm among security agencies, especially in light of the region’s history of militancy. Officials have noted that the youth among these immigrants are vulnerable to exploitation by Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and other anti-national elements, who may lure them into militancy. This concern has grown against the backdrop of rising militant attacks in Jammu, further fueling the urgency of the ongoing crackdown. There has not been a single arrest of a Rohingya in a militancy-related case.
Police and intelligence agencies have been conducting a detailed census of the Rohingyas, estimating their numbers at approximately 6,500 in Jammu district alone, with their bastis concentrated in areas like Narwal Bhatindi, Railway Station, Qasim Nagar, and Channi Rama. Smaller clusters have also been identified in Samba (550 residents) and Kathua (200 residents at the Hiranagar Holding Centre). However, unverified reports suggest that the total number of Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals in the region could be as high as 13,700, with their population growing significantly between 2008 and 2014 due to marriages with natives and natural growth.
Authorities have intensified their tenant verification drive, registering multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) against property owners who rented their properties to Rohingyas without proper police clearance. Last month, five landlords were booked, and action has been initiated against 14 plot owners in areas like Channi Himmat, Sunjuwan, and Narwal. Water and electricity supplies to properties occupied by Rohingyas have been disconnected, and plot owners have been instructed to vacate their lands to prevent illegal settlements from becoming permanent.
The crackdown extends to identifying and prosecuting individuals and groups that provide logistical support to Rohingyas. Officials assert that this “support base” has been critical in sustaining the immigrants, allowing them to blend into local communities by posing as residents of states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. Marriages between local individuals and Rohingya women have further complicated efforts to address the issue, creating entrenched family networks that contribute to their population growth.
Authorities, according to reports appearing in sections of Jammumedia, are deeply concerned about the potential demographic shifts caused by the settlement of Rohingyas in Jammu, a region that has historically been sensitive to demographic changes. The influx of immigrants has raised questions among locals about why refugees from Myanmar have chosen Jammu, a region thousands of kilometres away from their country of origin. This has led to speculation about external forces influencing their movement, with officials warning that demographic engineering could be a long-term strategy.
The Deputy Commissioner of Jammu has issued strict orders making police verification of tenants mandatory, emphasising the potential risks posed by unauthorised individuals who may misuse rented properties for illegal activities. Locals have been urged to cooperate with law enforcement by ensuring that all tenancy agreements are cleared through the police. Officials have warned property owners against aiding or sheltering illegal immigrants, stating that those found guilty will face legal consequences.
The Rohingya immigrants, who fled persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine state and sought refuge in Bangladesh, began crossing into India in search of better opportunities. While some were accepted as refugees, others spread to different parts of the country, including Jammu, where they established small colonies and took up menial jobs. Their presence, however, has increasingly been seen as a security threat and a challenge to local governance.
By targeting both the immigrants and their support systems, the current crackdown aims to dismantle the networks enabling illegal settlements. Authorities have underscored that this action is not only a response to immediate security threats but also a pre-emptive measure to safeguard the region’s socio-political stability.
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