Hundreds of Rohingya Muslim families camping in and around different residential colonies of Jammu are staring at an uncertain future ahead.
Ever since the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced that illegal immigrants staying in Jammu and Kashmir would be deported soon after completing their identification process these poor families have been spending sleepless nights fearing for their ‘livelihood’ and ‘safety’.
Majority of these Rohingya muslims have been camping here since last 8-12 years and earning their livelihood by selling scrap, collecting garbage, working as local labourers, sweepers, factory workers etc.
When this correspondent visited one of the clusters of Rohingya muslims on the outskirts of Jammu on Sunday large number of them were sitting in small groups discussing the possible fallout of the MHA diktat to the State Government.
Imam Hussain, in his early thirties, told The Pioneer, “i have been earning livelihood by importing fresh variety of fish from Mumbai. He said i visit Mumbai thrice a month and import fresh variety of fish for sale in the local market”.
At least half a dozen other youth travel with him and book their consignments on rail luggage and sell fresh fish in the market.
“We are earning well.No one here so far created any hurdle nor disturbed us. But if we are forced to move out i may have to think about earning my livelihood and safety of my children. The situation in Burma is not conducive that i take them back home”, Imam Hussain told The Pioneer.
Another Rohingya muslim Kamal Hussain, working as a daily wage labourer said, “even though I am struggling to make both ends meet but i am happy i am alive and feeding my children here. I am not ready to return to Burma”, Hussain asserted. “I do not want to loose my children at the hands of state violence in Burma”,he added.
According to the data collected by the J&K Home Department around 5700 Rohingya muslims have been staying in Jammu for past several years on the outskirts of Jammu.
Children of these families have been admitted in the state government run schools in Bhatindi and Narwal Bala area of Jammu while others are admitted in ‘Madrassas’ (Islamic schools).
Referring to the decision of the central government to send them back home 55 year old Shabir Ahmad said, “ None of us camping here are willing to return home. He said if we are forced to vacate the place we will have to do the same but on our own we do not want to go home”.
Sadam Hussain, another young man earning his livelihood by selling waste material told The Pioneer,” if the Government will send us home we cannot fight against them. He said only problem in Burma is prevailing security situation. He said my parents are living in Burma and i keep receiving inputs how muslims were being hunted down and eliminated.
Maulana Oli Ollah, teaching here at Madrassa Tul Mahjreen, Sunjwan appealed to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak to democratically elected leaders in Myanmar to facilitate their early and safe return.