Launching a fresh offensive against the landlords who have rented out and accommodated a large number of illegal immigrants from Myanmar (Rohingya refugees) on their vacant plots the Jammu and Kashmir administration has now decided to cut off power and water supply lines to evict illegal occupants at the earliest.

At least 400 families of Rohinhyas, residing inside temporary structures raised on these plots, have been affected by the recent diktat. Confirming the same, a Rohingya immigrant told The Pioneer that “for the last two days we have been facing a lot of hardships as power and water supply has been snapped in the Narwal Bala and Sunjwan area of Jammu. The landlord has given us a final ultimatum to vacate the plot at the earliest.”

Official sources revealed the district administration has decided to act tough against all those landlords who have sheltered these illegal immigrants on their plots. According to the latest assessment of the Home Department, more than 6000 Rohingyas are camping across different locations across Jammu district and several other illegal immigrants have also shifted to other district headquarters of Samba, Kathua, Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch.

On the instructions of the Home Department, the Jammu and Kashmir police along with intelligence agencies were conducting a fresh audit of illegal settlements of Rohingyas across the Jammu region. Last week, the Jammu and Kashmir police registered cases against the landlords who have rented out their properties without submitting their relevant records and completing due verification. The stringent step was aimed at curbing the illegal influx of Rohingya refugees and to ensure public safety.

In the ongoing process, the Jammu Police has identified several instances and likewise registered cases against landlords who have knowingly or unknowingly rented their properties to Rohingya refugees, who are undocumented and pose a potential security threat. The police action followed an order by the office of the District Commissioner of Jammu making police verification of tenants mandatory for all property owners in the district.

According to a police spokesman, the Jammu and Kashmir police have so far registered FIR 182/2024 and FIR 184/2024, both under section 223 of BNS in the Police Station Nowabad against Farman Ali S/o Gulam Mohd, R/o Bhawani Nagar, Talab Tillo Jammu; and Azam Malik S/o Masood Malik, R/o Ashti Mohalla, Batmalo, Srinagar respectively. In addition three cases, FIR 296/2024, FIR 297/2024 and FIR 298/2024, all under section 223 of BNS have also been registered in the Police Station Bahu Fort against Asima Latief D/o Abdul Latief R/o Rehima Abad, Bathindi; Mohd Shakeel S/o Rahim Ali R/o Rehima Abad, Bathindi; and Zakir Hussain S/o Khurshed Ali R/o Dungian, Bathindi, respectively.