Even after the Government of India started deporting Rohingyas, illegal immigrants from Myanmar, to their native country, a large number of them staying in Jammu continue to live 'safely' all along the periphery of Sunjwan Army station and other vital security installations in different parts of Jammu.
According to the state Home department records made available in the state assembly during the Budget session this year, "a total number of 6,523 Rohingyas were camping across 39 locations in five districts of the State".
In contrast to this various socio-politico organsations allege their actual numbers could be much more than recorded in the record books of the State Home Department.
According to the official sources in the State Home Department, the State Police Department is yet to prepare an upgraded list of Rohingyas.
Even repeated reminders by the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, directing the State Government to collect their bio metrics, has failed to alert them.
According to official sources, "the majority population of these Rohingyas is circling around Sunjwan army camp, attacked by Pakistan based 'fidayeen' squad on February 10, 2018".
Preliminary investigations conducted in the case had clearly suggested role of some over ground workers,possibly supported by Rohingyas, behind sheltering heavily armed terrorists before the attack was launched from the rear side of the army camp.
Despite lot of hue and cry and fresh security assessment these illegal immigrants continue to occupy prime land along the boundary wall of army camp posing a serious threat to the security of the vital army installation.
Till date no action has been taken by any other State Government agency to relocate them to any other location to ensure safety of strategically important defence installation.
Ironically, when Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had visited the encounter site it was brought in to her notice that rampant construction activity was going on in and around Sunjwan military station.
She was also informed that illegal immigrants, settled in the close vicinity, continue to pose a threat as they are vulnerable to black mail by over ground workers of terror outfits establishing their sleeper cells in and around Jammu.
In the last eight months even the senior army authorities have failed to convince the State Government to at least relocate these illegal immigrants from the close vicinity of strategically important defence installations.
The issue of resettlement of illegal immigrants has already become bone of contention between the different political parties of the State.
On one hand the mainstream political parties from Kashmir valley adopt soft approach towards their continuation within the state while Jammu based political parties and their leaders have been spearheading a campaign to relocate them at the earliest outside the State border.