JAMMU, October 18: The administration of Jammu and Kashmir has taken a notable step by forming a six-member committee tasked with identifying foreign nationals who have been residing in the Union Territory illegally since January 2011. This significant move comes in response to a communication dated November 26, 2020, from the Union home ministry.
The committee, as mandated by the home department, has been entrusted with the responsibility of preparing a monthly report and submitting it to the Union home ministry by the seventh day of each month. The financial commissioner-cum-additional chief secretary of the home department will serve as the chairperson of this panel, overseeing its operations and the fulfillment of its objectives.
The committee comprises several key members who play critical roles in the identification and monitoring process. Among its members are the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) of Punjab, senior superintendents of police (SSPs), and representatives from the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Special Branch) in both Jammu and Srinagar. Furthermore, all senior superintendents of police (SSPs) and superintendents of police (SPs) associated with the Foreigners Registration Office have been included in this vital committee.
This development follows the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s substantial efforts in 2021 to clamp down on illegal immigrants. During this initiative, over 270 Rohingyas from Myanmar, including 74 women and 70 children, were detained in Kathua district’s Hiranagar sub-jail. This facility was subsequently repurposed into a holding center for foreign nationals who had been residing illegally within the Union Territory.
Rohingyas, a Bengali-dialect-speaking Muslim minority from Myanmar, have sought refuge in India, specifically Jammu, and other parts of the country due to persecution in their home country. Over the years, their numbers have grown significantly in the Jammu and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir. According to government data, more than 13,700 foreigners, including Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshi nationals, have settled in these regions, with a substantial increase of over 6,000 between 2008 and 2016.
The establishment of this committee represents a proactive approach by the Jammu and Kashmir administration to address the presence of foreign nationals residing illegally within its borders, thereby ensuring a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of the situation and compliance with relevant regulations.
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