In the past 15 years, there has been a dramatic surge in the Rohingya population in Jammu. The number has increased from a paltry 200 to approximately 11,000. The increase has raised serious concerns about the demographic changes in the area.
Furthermore, there are allegations that the Rohingya settlements in Jammu are linked to local political motives. With the increase of Rohingyas in the region, there has been a surge in crimes such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, and theft. Reports suggest that Rohingyas are largely involved in these crimes, bringing an entirely new level of security concerns among the local public.
The increase in the Rohingya population
According to a report in Amar Ujala, the influx of Rohingyas in Jammu started in 2009 when the Congress-NC government was in power. The first Rohingya who entered Jammu and settled in Bathindi area was identified as Sayeed Hussain. Since then, the number of Rohingyas has increased substantially in the region.
By 2012, the Rohingyas were granted ration cards and Aadhaar cards. There were reportedly no efforts made by the local government to curb the migration of the Rohingya population in Jammu. There have been concerns that the influx of Rohingyas has been politically motivated, aiming at altering the demographics of Jammu. Several NGOs in the state are also accused of facilitating the settlement of these illegal Rohingya immigrants.
Speaking to Amar Ujala, former Brigadier Vijay Sagar said that Rohingyas were deliberately settled in Jammu rather than Srinagar, reflecting a demographic conspiracy. In the past five years, at least 65 cases involving theft, drug trade, and human trafficking were registered against Rohingyas in Jammu, pointing towards their involvement in serious criminal activities.
J&K CM Omar Abdullah wants to have a ‘humanitarian approach’ while dealing with Rohingyas
In a recent statement, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, emphasised a “humanitarian approach” to the issue of Rohingyas living in the state. He stated that Rohingyas cannot be left to starve or perish in the cold. His statement came after the Jammu administration launched a campaign against illegal Rohingya settlers in the region.
He further urged the central government to decide the fate of the Rohingyas, insisting that they should be treated with “dignity” while in India. On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) labelled their settlement a “political conspiracy” and called for a CBI inquiry into the matter.
Meanwhile, a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) delegation, led by Senior Protection Officer Tomoko Fukumura, visited Rohingya camps in Jammu. The development took place amidst a contentious debate about whether or not to supply water and power to unlawfully settled immigrants.
Javed Ahmed Rana, Jal Shakti Minister for J&K, stated that water supplies to these settlements would not be cut off unless directed by the central government. His statement resulted in criticism of the ruling party as they openly supported illegal settlers in the state.
Past reports revealed a massive influx of Rohingyas in Jammu and Kashmir
In a 2019 report, Dainik Bhaskar highlighted the sharp increase in Rohingyas in Jammu and Kashmir. The report alleged there were over 10,000 Rohingya in the state with majority of them living in districts of Samba, Poonch, Doda and Anantnag. Shockingly, the report alleged that they established camps near Army Camps, Police Lines and Railway Lines without any intervention from the authorities. A 2018 report noted that 6,523 Rohingyas were living at 39 locations in the state, with 6,461 in Jammu alone. Notably, the report highlighted that the Rohingyas were allegedly receiving preferential treatment over local workers in Jammu.
The report alleged that over 200 Rohingyas were employed by the Jammu Municipal Corporation and were paid higher wages compared to local labourers for tasks including cleaning drains. The local workers, at that time, protested via unions against the disparity and accused contractors of favouring illegal settlers over locals.
Even in 2019, there were calls for biometric data collection and strict action on the illegal immigrants to curb the influx of Rohingyas in Jammu. However, due to the lack of any concrete action, their number almost doubled in five years.
