Rohingya Families in Jammu Face Displacement After Eviction Notices

Rohingya Families in Jammu Face Displacement After Eviction Notices
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Hundreds of Rohingya refugee families in Jammu’s Narwal area have started removing their shelters and shops following eviction notices issued to landowners by local authorities, leaving many residents questioning where they will relocate.

The affected settlements are located in areas including Karyani Talab, where Rohingya families have lived for years in makeshift structures. Residents said they were asked to vacate after authorities directed landowners to remove structures built on plots designated for agricultural use.

Local residents told media that dozens of shops had already been removed and that hundreds of families living in temporary shelters were affected. Some families said they had lived in the area for more than a decade and had invested their limited resources in building homes and small businesses.

The Rohingya families, many of whom fled Myanmar following violence and persecution, said they have limited access to basic services but have relied on informal work in Jammu to support their families. Some residents said they hold documentation issued by the UN refugee agency.

The evictions follow increased official attention toward Rohingya settlements in Jammu and Kashmir, including a visit by a government-appointed committee examining demographic changes in the region. Government data presented to the committee identified thousands of Rohingya residents across Jammu and Kashmir.

Rights groups and refugee advocates have called for humanitarian safeguards, including access to shelter and essential services, while legal experts have raised concerns about displacement without clear relocation arrangements.