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

A central committee tasked with investigating demographic changes and security concerns in Jammu and Kashmir arrived in the region on Monday for a three-day assessment. The Committee on Demographic Change, led by retired Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar, will evaluate allegations of unnatural shifts in population and the implications for border districts.

The committee, which includes a Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, will consult with various stakeholders, including political parties. This visit follows a year since Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a high-powered demography mission to address "illegal infiltration" in the region. The government established a committee in May to study demographic changes in the area.

Sources indicate the panel will concentrate on border areas and localities in the Jammu division with undocumented settlements, assess current verification protocols, and develop identification mechanisms. While there are no official figures, estimates suggest around 13,700 undocumented individuals reside in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts, with regular verification by police and government agencies.

Allegations of undocumented Rohingya presence, found with ration cards and former permanent resident certificates, have been made by police. Additionally, small groups of Bangladeshi migrants have been detained in the past. The BJP has consistently framed the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh as a significant concern, particularly in the context of recent elections in Assam and West Bengal.

In his Independence Day speech last year, the Prime Minister highlighted the "threat" of infiltration and illegal immigration and announced a mission to curb "demographic change."