J&K govt weighing options, including deportation

JAMMU : Following multiple protests in Jammu region over the unabated influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh to Jammu and Kashmir, it is learnt that the J&K government has started considering options, including deportation.

On March 3, Union home minister Rajnath Singh had sought a report from the state over unabated influx of illegal immigrants to Jammu and Samba districts.

Subsequently, on April 3 Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi held a meeting with state chief secretary BR Sharma and J&K DGP SP Vaid.

DGP J&K Police SP Vaid said, “The issue can’t be discussed in public domain. It not only pertains to J&K but to the entire country. Some decisions were taken at the meeting but they cannot be divulged.”

While the DGP did not disclose the decisions arrived at the meeting, a highly placed source in the CID wing of the J&K Police said illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh have been identified.

“They have been identified. This is a complex issue. The government is also considering the option to deport them. If the government wants to initiate any action, including their deportation, it can be done,” he said.

The state enjoys a special status under Article 370 of the Constitution which prohibits Indians from other states from owning property or settling down herein permanently.

Recently, Jammu deputy commissioner Simrandeep Singh had claimed on a social networking site that following complaints, the administration found that an illegal immigrant family in Jammu was possessing documents like voter identity cards and permanent resident certificate.

“The allegations of possessing voter identity card, Aadhar card and permanent resident’s certificate were confirmed. We we will scan our databases to weed out illegal immigrants and see if there are more cases of illegal immigrants possessing documents which they are not supposed to have,” he had written on a social media group created to disseminate information to journalists.

“It is just the tip of the iceberg. Since the administration has itself admitted that illegal immigrants have managed to get identity documents in the state, our claims were not unfounded. Certainly, there are elements in the system working under a sinister plan to change the demography of Jammu,” said Jammubased advocate Ankur Sharma.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

The legal cell of the BJP had recently filed a PIL in the J&K high court seeking deportation of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.

On March 20, Parikranti, an NGO threatened to use all “legitimate tools including legal recourse” if the state government fails to take effective steps in deporting illegal immigrants from the state within 15 days.

In June last year, the J&K Assembly was informed that about 13,400 refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh were living in camps in Jammu. However, in January this year the Assembly was informed that 5,700 Rohingya Muslims and 322 other foreigners were presently living in Jammu and Samba districts.

The discrepancy in the two figures reflects the fact that the state government itself does not have adequate information about the community living in Jammu region.

UNION HOME MINISTER HAD SOUGHT A REPORT FROM THE STATE OVER UNABATED INFLUX OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM MYANMAR AND BANGLADESH TO JAMMU AND SAMBA