J&K police arrest 50 people who helped Rohingyas settle in UT, providing fake documents
The ongoing probe is expected to lead to more arrests as a detailed picture emerges
The ongoing probe is expected to lead to more arrests as a detailed picture emerges
The ongoing probe is expected to lead to more arrests as a detailed picture emerges
The ongoing probe is expected to lead to more arrests as a detailed picture emerges
In what is seen as a significant threat to the region's security and socio-economic equilibrium, the Jammu and Kashmir police are cracking down on suspects who helped Rohingya refugees settle in Jammu region by providing them with fraudulent documents.
Police have registered 14 FIRs and arrested nearly 50 individuals, including several married couples. The arrests primarily targeted those aiding Rohingyas in acquiring forged or illegal documentation, arranging housing and facilitating access to crucial services.
This targeted approach aimed at identifying and prosecuting the network aiding Rohingyas' settlement in the region. The crackdown in Jammu, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch districts unfolded after simultaneous searches at Rohingya settlements and suspected individuals' residences.
Police have seized falsified documents including Aadhaar cards, ration cards, voter IDs, revenue records, rent deeds and passbooks.
They are exploring angles of human trafficking as part of the investigation. There were instances of Rohingyas marrying locals to obtain documents. Mobile phones and SIM cards were also confiscated for further scrutiny.
Police stressed the significance of background verification for tenants, domestic helpers, and hotel guests to bolster security. An official was detained in Poonch for his involvement in aiding Rohingyas to obtain specific documents.
"Certain elements have facilitated illegal Rohingya settlements, posing potential threats to J&K's security and socio-economic fabric," said IGP Jammu Zone Anand Jain.
The ongoing investigation is expected to lead to more arrests as a detailed picture emerges. "Our primary focus was identifying those aiding illegal immigrant settlements and providing them necessary support; they've turned it into a business," Jain added.
In March 2021, a verification drive discovered many Rohingyas living illegally in Jammu City, following which they were relocated to a holding centre inside the Kathua Sub-Jail.