Jammu Authorities uncover NGO ties aiding Rohingyas

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have identified four NGOs accused of assisting Rohingyas.

| Updated: 16 December, 2024 12:25 pm IST
Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have identified four NGOs accused of assisting Rohingyas.
Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have identified four NGOs accused of assisting Rohingyas.

JAMMU: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have identified four NGOs accused of assisting Rohingyas, as investigations reveal that 158 Myanmar nationals secured Aadhaar cards and eight obtained ration cards, allegedly for permanent settlement in the region.

 

Officials told The New Indian that 38 Rohingya women have married local men in Jammu, while 124 tied the knot with Kashmiri men in the Valley, blending into the local populace. This phenomenon, officials warned, could be exploited by hostile nations like Pakistan to promote separatist and extremist agendas in the region.

 

Authorities raised concerns over the potential radicalization of Rohingyas via social media platforms. Many have reportedly obtained voter cards, ration cards, Aadhaar IDs, and Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) through illegal means, often with the support of influential entities. The NGOs, all based in Kashmir, are alleged to have provided both monetary and logistical aid to facilitate this process.

 

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The issue of illegal trafficking has also surfaced, with reports suggesting that Rohingya girls are being brought from Myanmar to Jammu and Kashmir for marriage with locals, often in exchange for money. These marriages, officials claim, are part of a strategy to ensure long-term settlement and integration into the region.

 

Authorities reported the issuance of 61 Aadhaar cards to Rohingyas in Jammu and 97 in Kashmir, alongside eight ration cards. Security agencies are now closely monitoring their activities, particularly at critical sites like Jammu Railway Station, where they work as laborers for lower wages than locals.

 

Officials emphasized that the presence of thousands of Rohingyas poses a significant security risk, citing their involvement in crimes like drug trafficking, theft, and forgery. They also pointed out that Rohingya migration is an ongoing issue, with families relocating frequently, complicating efforts to track their numbers.

 

No legal water or electricity connections are provided to their settlements in Jammu, as the administration classifies them as illegal immigrants. Across India, no state grants them formal utility connections.

 

The illegal influx of Rohingyas through borders in West Bengal and Assam into Jammu is believed to be a deliberate effort to alter the region’s demographic balance. Police have intensified crackdowns, filing multiple FIRs against landlords renting properties to Rohingyas without proper tenant verification.

 

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized the West Bengal and Jharkhand administrations, accusing them of enabling the entry of Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals across their borders for alleged political gains.

 

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“We have successfully fenced 96% of the border with Bangladesh, which is a key route for Rohingya infiltration into India before they spread across various states and union territories, including Jammu and Kashmir. The remaining 4% of the border remains unfenced due to the presence of rivers, streams, large water bodies, dense forests, and mountainous terrain,” Shah explained during an interview.

 

He stated that infiltration by Bangladeshi and Rohingya nationals has ceased in Assam and is on track to end in Odisha. However, Shah alleged that the issue persists in West Bengal and Jharkhand, where local governments reportedly view these migrants as a means to consolidate political support.

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