Authorities to cut power, water supplies
Illegal immigrants pose security threat
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 6: In a tough action against Rohingyas, the authorities have decided to cut power and water supplies to the plots where they are putting up to make them retreat from Jammu and prevent influx of more illegal immigrants while police have identified some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) who have intentionally been facilitating movement of the Myanmarese from across India to Jammu with a view to change demography of the region.
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“Illegal migration of Rohingyas from Myanmar through West Bengal, Assam and other borders to the Jammu region is being done with a purpose. The NGOs and others facilitating migration of Rohingyas to Jammu not only want to settle them here but this has specific motive of changing demography of the region,” officials told the Excelsior citing investigations following questioning of some of the immigrants and persons who brought them here.
They said some of the Kashmir-based NGOs have been identified which facilitated illegal migration of Myanmarese from different parts of the country to the Jammu region to help them settle here with twin purposes including rehabilitation of the illegal immigrants and changing demographic culture of Jammu.
Asserting that the Rohingyas have become “potential security threat” especially in the wake of surge in terror attacks in the region, the officials said the youngsters among them can be exploited by the Over Ground Workers (OGWs) and other anti-national elements to lure them into the terrorism.
Meanwhile, the authorities have started acting tough against the illegal immigrants settled here in rented, semi-constructed houses etc deciding to cut electricity and water supplies to ensure that they not only retreat from the Jammu region but a message is sent out to others also who planned to migrate, that they are not getting facilities here.
“This will prevent further migration of Rohingyas to the region,” the officials said, adding that electricity and water supplies to the plots and semi-constructed houses where the Rohingyas are putting up on rent is being disconnected. Action is also being taken against owners of the plots and houses who have given their property on rent to the illegal immigrants,” the officials said.
As reported exclusively by the Excelsior, police have launched major crackdown on Rohingyas in different parts of the City and lodged a number of First Information Reports (FIRs) against all those who have rented out their property to Myanmarese without tenant verification which has been made mandatory.
As per the latest figures, there are around 6500 Myanmarese in Jammu district, their ‘bastis’ mainly confined to Narwal Bhatindi, Railway Station, Qasim Nagar, Channi Rama etc, around 550 in Samba and 200 at Hiranagar Holding Centre in Kathua district.
Some of the sources put the number of Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals settled in Jammu at 13,700. Their population is reported to have increased between 2008 and 2014.
While major population of Rohingyas is mainly confined to outskirts of the Jammu City and Samba district, few families have also managed to reach Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch districts because of the support arranged by some organizations and individuals, the officials said.
Rohingyas had earlier managed to establish themselves in the system, opening bank accounts, acquiring electricity and water connections, and obtaining essential documents such as Aadhaar cards, ration cards and domicile certificates. The exploitation of rented plots for makeshift shelters, facilitated by the negligent tenancy verification process, had further exacerbated the situation,” the officials said but added that all those now renting out their houses, plots, land etc are being booked for facilitating illegal immigrants.
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