Omar Abdullah Slams Sudden, Unjustified Crackdown On Rohingyas In J&K

Abdullah said those who entered India illegally from Bangladesh should face legal consequences, but argued that Rohingyas who fled persecution in Myanmar had been allowed to stay in J&K on humanitarian grounds.

Data recently presented by local authorities to a Centre-appointed committee showed that 7,656 Rohingya refugees were living across J&K, including 6,737 in Jammu and 919 in the Kashmir Valley.

“Those who entered from Bangladesh without permission — that is a separate issue. But the Rohingyas are being singled out without cause. They were driven out of their country, and we gave them shelter,” Abdullah said.

He said the ongoing action was being directed by the Centre, adding that the J&K Police, which is involved in verification and eviction drives, is not under the direct control of the Union Territory administration.

The remarks came amid an intensified campaign in Jammu, where landlords have reportedly been served notices asking them to evict Rohingya tenants or face FIRs. Residents of Narwal, Channi Himmat and Sunjuwan said landlords, fearing police action, had asked Rohingya families to leave.

The situation has also raised concerns over access to basic amenities, with reports that power and water supplies had earlier been disconnected in some settlements. Human rights groups have estimated that around 1,800 Rohingyas have already been rendered homeless.

The eviction drive intensified after a Centre-appointed High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes inspected Rohingya settlements in August. Local officials said landlords renting accommodation to Rohingyas were issued eviction directions, while at least 18 FIRs were registered against those accused of failing to report tenants as required under district magistrate orders.

Many Rohingya families said they had lived in Jammu for 15 to 20 years, working as labourers and possessing UNHCR documentation. Some have reportedly been forced to consider moving to other parts of India or leaving the country.

Abdullah has called for the issue to be treated as a humanitarian crisis. “They must not be treated like animals. They are human beings. You cannot let them starve or freeze,” he said, adding that if the Centre intended to deport them, it should state its position clearly.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah also defended the provision of basic amenities to the refugees, saying, “As long as they are here, it is our duty to provide water and electricity.”

Political parties have taken divergent positions on the issue. The Congress called for adherence to international refugee norms and criticised the withdrawal of basic amenities. The BJP, meanwhile, alleged a “political conspiracy” behind the settlement of Rohingyas in Jammu and questioned the Abdullah government's position on restoring utilities.

India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and officially categorises Rohingyas as illegal immigrants. Authorities in Jammu have alleged that some Rohingyas obtained Aadhaar and ration cards and that NGOs facilitated their settlement. Officials have also reported instances of inter-community marriages involving Rohingya women and local men.

Beyond the Rohingya issue, Abdullah said J&K would not implement the Uniform Civil Code unilaterally, challenging the Centre to bring the legislation before Parliament for debate. He also said the INDIA bloc would continue to raise concerns over alleged voter-list deletions and referred to the Supreme Court's proceedings involving the Election Commission and the Centre.

On infrastructure, Abdullah said land would be allotted to BSNL to expand mobile connectivity in uncovered areas. He also highlighted plans to lay utility ducts along roads to avoid repeated excavation for water, electricity and telecom projects.