Shanties come up near sensitive Indian Oil Depot
Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 2: Posing grave security threat, the illegally staying Rohingyas in Jammu have even settled along the railway track near sensitive places like Indian Oil Depot in Channi Rama area.
Apart from being a security threat, these illegal immigrants from Burma living at different places in Jammu also have secured illegal water and power connections and they continuously create insanitary conditions in localities wherever they live by defecating in open.
Some locals charge rents from these Rohingyas to allow them in their vacant plots, most of which are grabbed pieces of Government lands, but others living in the vicinity of such plots feel fear due to the presence of these Burma nationals owing to their involvement in various crimes including terrorism.
Hue and cry was raised many times from different sections of the society especially from certain political circles against the presence of these illegal immigrants and there remained a continuous demand for their deportation from Jammu.
At present locals of Jammu living in the localities where the Rohingyas stay have expressed anguish over their presence in their neighbourhood.
Ex-Army Captain Maroof Ahmed, 59, who lives near Armed Police Lines in Channi Rama, claimed that Rohingyas living in that area were mostly involved in crimes like thefts wherein they even not spared a mosque at Channi in this regard.
“From where these residents of Burma got permission to settle here while police verification is necessary even for locals to even get a rental accommodation,” he said.
Similarly, Mansoor Ahmed, 52, a shopkeeper at Chakki Mohalla in Channi Rama said some locals have rented their vacant plots to Rohingyas while they themselves either live in Srinagar or at some other places but those who continue to live in these areas with the illegal immigrants as neighbours, are left to face thefts by these people.
“They litter in open and spoil the environment and they even stole things from railway tracks to sell as scrap,” he informed.
One more ex-serviceman Captain Ashok Kumar, 65, of Channi Rama said that they can’t leave their house all alone even for attending last rites of some relative fearing theft by Rohingyas living in the vicinity.
Similar concern was expressed by one Sanjay Singh, also living in Channi area.
Locals from other areas where these illegal immigrants live said that Rohingyas also start begging from the guests during their social functions like marriages and their children mostly remain without clothes which embarrasses the original residents of such areas.
Councillor of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Kamal Singh Jamwal of Ward number 49 (Channi Rama) informed that there are about 60-70 shanties in Chakki Mohalla area of his Ward where Rohingyas live.
“Some locals have settled them in their vacant plots and they charge rent from them while the Rohingyas have secured illegal water and power connections and they have nothing to do with smart meters,” Jamwal informed adding that these illegal immigrants go for open defecation in the area thereby creating insanitary conditions.
He also informed that these people were often found involved in narcotic addiction and peddling and they also possess Aadhar Cards.
“They have even settled along the railway track near Indian Oil depot in Channi Rama area from where they can easily shoot videos and click photos of such vital installations to pose a grave security challenge,” the JMC Councillor maintained.
Sources informed that these illegal immigrants from Burma are also staying at Karyani Tallab, Narwal and at some other places in Jammu.
When contacted, BJP J&K president, Ravinder Raina said that Rohingyas came to Jammu during Congress rule and now they have even got Voter and Aadhar Cards.
“In BJP rule their registration and verification was done and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India took their issue with Burmese authorities who were even ready to take them back but they (Rohingyas) refused to return,” he claimed.
It is pertinent to mention here that Raina along with other BJP leaders earlier remained vociferous in demanding deportation of these Rohingyas from Jammu.
“India is a part of UN treaty on refugees so these people can’t be forcibly deported,” the J&K BJP president continued adding: “They are poor people who can be easily misused by antinational people working in the sensitive State of J&K.”
When contacted, Jammu city Mayor, Rajinder Sharma expressed concern over the wrong activities by the illegally staying Rohingyas.
“The issue will be soon taken with Principal Secretary Home,” he said.
Shaheen Wahid, SP Jammu South when contacted said that settlement of such elements at sensitive places will be strictly looked into.
She assured that police will definitely do all what is required to be done for the safety of the region.
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