Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Forces deployed to prevent Rohingya infiltrati­on: Govt

‘ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS’ Centre says collecting details from states 87 MEN JOINED MILITANCY THIS YR IN S KASHMIR

- HT Correspond­ent

NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday informed the Lok Sabha that some Rohingya Muslim mig- rants in India have been found indulging in illegal activities, and maintained that security forces have been deployed to stop their infiltrati­on into the country.

Home minister Rajnath Singh said during question hour that states have been asked to carry out enumeratio­n of Rohingyas and collect their biometric and other details. “When we get all informatio­n on the number of Rohingyas and other details from the states, we will approach the external affairs ministry and connect with Myanmar to deport them... The states have the right under the Foreigners Act to deport illegal migrants,” he said.

Singh said the Border Security Force and the Assam Rifles guarding internatio­nal borders have been sensitised to ensure that Rohingyas do not infiltrate into the country. In February this year, he said, an advisory was sent to the states asking them to confine Rohingyas in one place and keep them under watch.

Earlier, minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju made it clear that Rohingyas do not have the status of “refugee” but are “illegal migrants” and not entitled to any government facility. Responding to queries, Rijiju said the government has reports that some of the Rohingyas have been found involving in illegal activities.

He said the priority is to take care of the rights of the In- dian citizens.

“Though Rohingy- as have not been given legal documents like ration cards, if they have acquired such facilities, it must be through illegal means.” The states, Rijiju said, have to ensure that migrants do not get legal documents leading to citizenshi­p claim later. NEW DELHI: As many as 87 youths in Jammu and Kashmir have joined militancy in four districts of the Southern part of the Valley this year, the government informed the Parliament on Tuesday. Minister of state for home Hansraj Ahir said that till July 20 this year, 87 new recruits joined militancy in four South Kashmir districts – Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama. Maximum recruitmen­t of 35 boys was in Pulwama followed by 23 in Shopian, 15 in Kulgam and 14 in Anantnag, the minister said.

 ?? ARVIND YADAV/HT PHOTO ?? BJP president Amit Shah offers sweets to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the party’s parliament­ary party meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.
ARVIND YADAV/HT PHOTO BJP president Amit Shah offers sweets to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the party’s parliament­ary party meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.

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