A report from a Jammu-based newspaper has revealed that 152 Rohingya women have married locally in Jamm Kashmir, while 158 refugees have managed to secure Aadhaar cards.
The issue of Rohingya refugees has once again stirred political controversy in the region.
According to Daily Excelsior, 38 Rohingya women married local men in the Jammu region, and 124 married in the Kashmir Valley.
The newspaper also alleged that many Rohingyas have illegally obtained ration cards, voter IDs, Aadhaar cards, and even Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) to establish permanent residency in Jammu and Kashmir.
The report further claimed that four Kashmir-based NGOs have been providing financial and material support to the refugees.
It also stated that 61 Aadhaar cards were issued to Rohingyas in the Jammu region and 97 in the Kashmir division, along with eight instances of ration cards being issued.
Responding to the matter, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) president Farooq Abdullah emphasized the government’s responsibility to provide essential services to refugees. Speaking in Kathua, he remarked, “The Union Government brought these refugees here, not us. As long as they are here, it is our duty to provide them water and electricity.”
The BJP, however, has accused the settlement of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis in Jammu of being a “political conspiracy” and has demanded a CBI investigation to identify those involved in facilitating it.
Meanwhile, in Jammu, the administration initiated a drive to disconnect power and water connections in Rohingya settlements. This was later halted by Jal Shakti Minister Javed Rana, who directed the department to cease the operation.
Jammu Kashmir is currently home to approximately 13,700 refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh.