Fresh scrutiny on Rohingya, Bangladeshi ‘settlements’ as Centre reviews J&K demography

A central committee tasked with investigating demographic changes in Jammu and Kashmir has arrived in the Union Territory for a three-day assessment, amid growing concerns over undocumented Rohingya and Bangladeshi settlers. Headed by retired Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar, the Committee on Demographic Change met with the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, and will hold further discussions with various stakeholders.

This visit follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of a high-powered demography mission last year to tackle "illegal infiltration" in border regions. The committee will specifically focus on border areas and localities in Jammu division with reported undocumented settlements, reviewing current verification protocols and forming mechanisms for identification.

Right-wing groups have expressed concern over alleged undocumented workers in Jammu, with estimates suggesting around 13,700 such individuals across Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts. Government agencies routinely verify documents against United Nations mission records, but officials allege that Rohingya individuals have been found with ration cards and the now-defunct permanent resident certificates.

Police have also reported detaining small groups of Bangladeshi migrants on occasion. Last week, a group of 21 individuals suspected to be of Bangladeshi origin was apprehended while traveling to the Kashmir Valley. Illegal infiltration from Bangladesh has long been a contentious issue, particularly relevant to the BJP's electoral strategy in Assam and West Bengal. In his Independence Day address last year, Modi highlighted the threat posed by such infiltration, pledging to address "demographic change."