Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir’s top elected official, Omar Abdullah, on Tuesday criticized an ongoing campaign against Rohingya refugees, saying they were being targeted despite having lived in the region for years.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said people who had illegally entered India from Bangladesh should face legal proceedings. However, he argued that Rohingyas who fled persecution in Myanmar were in a different situation and should not be treated in the same manner.
Indian authorities on Monday transported at least 150 Bangladeshi nationals from Kashmir to West Bengal, claiming they were living in the region without legal authorization. Officials said a survey across Kashmir had identified around 600 Bangladeshi nationals allegedly residing there illegally.
Abdullah said Rohingyas had been forced to leave Myanmar and were given shelter in India, arguing that they should not be subjected to unjustified action.
Government figures indicate that approximately 7,656 Rohingyas are living in Jammu and Kashmir, including 6,737 in the Jammu division and 919 in the Kashmir Valley.
The eviction campaign has reportedly intensified, with landlords allegedly being instructed to remove Rohingya tenants or risk criminal proceedings. Local police have registered at least 18 first information reports against people accused of failing to inform authorities about their tenants.
Human rights organizations estimate that about 1,800 Rohingyas have lost their homes. Many families say they have lived in Jammu for between 15 and 20 years, working mainly as laborers and possessing UNHCR documentation.
Abdullah said the federal government was directing the campaign, while local police were responsible for verification and eviction operations. He urged authorities to ensure that Rohingyas were not left without food or shelter.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has alleged that the settlement of Rohingyas in Jammu was part of a political conspiracy, while the opposition Congress party has called for international refugee standards to be respected.
The Rohingya are a stateless Muslim minority from Myanmar who have experienced prolonged discrimination and displacement. More than 700,000 fled Myanmar’s Rakhine State after violence erupted in August 2017, with most seeking refuge in neighboring Bangladesh.
PRESS UPDATE