Srinagar:Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir's top elected official, Omar Abdullah, has criticized an alleged eviction campaign targeting Rohingya refugees in the region, stating that they are being unjustly "singled out" despite having resided there for years.
According to Anadolu Agency, Abdullah expressed that individuals who entered India illegally from Bangladesh should face legal repercussions, but emphasized that Rohingyas, who fled persecution in Myanmar, are a "separate" case. On Monday, Indian authorities relocated at least 150 Bangladeshi immigrants from Kashmir to West Bengal, citing illegal residence.
Officials reported that a survey conducted in the Kashmir region found approximately 600 Bangladeshi nationals allegedly staying there without permission. Abdullah highlighted that while illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are a separate issue, Rohingyas should not be targeted as they were forced out of Myanmar and given shelter in India.
Data reveals that around 7,656 Rohingyas live in Jammu and Kashmir, with 6,737 residing in the Jammu division and 919 in the Kashmir Valley. The eviction drive has intensified, leading to reports of landlords being ordered to evict Rohingya tenants or face legal action.
The Deccan Chronicle reported that at least 18 first information reports have been filed against individuals accused of not reporting tenants to authorities. Human rights groups estimate that approximately 1,800 Rohingyas have been rendered homeless.
Many Rohingya families claim to have lived in Jammu for 15 to 20 years, working as laborers and possessing UNHCR documents. Abdullah criticized the federal government for orchestrating the campaign, with local police carrying out verification and eviction operations.
He urged that Rohingyas should not be treated inhumanely and stressed that they must not be left to starve or freeze. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has alleged a "political conspiracy" behind the settlement of Rohingyas in Jammu, while the opposition Congress party advocates for adherence to international refugee norms.
The Rohingyas are a stateless Muslim minority from Myanmar who have faced longstanding discrimination and displacement, with over 700,000 fleeing Rakhine State in 2017 due to violence and seeking refuge primarily in Bangladesh.