REFUGEES: RELIVING RAKHINE?

As the situation in Myanmar goes from bad to worse, some of the Rohingya Muslim refugees are facing a new crisis in Jammu. It is being officially stated that the verification is in anticipation of their repatriation, reports Tahir Bhat

- Tahir Bhat

At a time, when the Myanmar army has finally overthrown the condemned Nobel laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi’s government, and is battling the street protesters seeking restoration of democracy, the tiny country is in news beyond its borders as well. Hundreds of thousands of the persecuted Rohingya Muslims, living as refugees in neighbouring countries continue making disturbing news.

In January, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, regretted Delhi’s decision to repatriate a group of Rohingya to Myanmar, the second such return in three months. These UNHRC registered asylum seekers, detained in Assam since 2013, were sent back to Myanmar on January 3.

On March 6, the Jammu and Kashmir government started verification and biometric profiling of Rohingyas living in Jammu. Termed to be part of an exercise to trace foreigners living in the temple city without valid documents, as many as 168 “illegal” immigrants were driven in buses to the Hiranagar jail. The verification was carried out at the MAM Stadium.

A HOLDING CENTRE

The jail was converted into “holding centres” under Section 3(2)e of the Foreigners Act. It can hold up to 250 inmates. It was opened for “illegal” foreigners a week after the prisoners were shifted to other jails.

“These immigrants were not holding valid travel documents required in terms of Section (3) of the Passports Act,” Jammu Police Chief, Mukesh told reporters. “After sending them to the holding centre, their nationality verification will be done as per the prescribed norms. Following that, the process to deport these illegal immigrants will be initiated.”