Rohingya families in Jammu left homeless after mass evictions
Hundreds of Rohingya households in Jammu's Karyani Talab area were forced to abandon their shelters and shops after eviction notices, leaving them without alternative housing.
In Jammu's Karyani Talab neighbourhood, eviction notices were issued to landowners who had leased plots to Rohingya refugees, citing agricultural land use and questioning the legality of foreign settlement. The orders led to the demolition of around 30 to 40 shops and 80 to 90 makeshift homes, displacing families who have resided there for over a decade and rely on daily-wage labour. Residents, many possessing United Nations refugee identification, now camp on the roads with their possessions, lacking basic utilities such as water and electricity.
The Rohingya Human Rights Initiative reports that about 350 shelters were torn down, impacting close to 1,800 individuals. Some families considered moving to other parts of India or Bangladesh, but police have reportedly blocked attempts to set up temporary shelters elsewhere. Legal experts note that India's constitution guarantees equality and personal liberty, and the absence of a specific refugee law does not justify forced evictions that render a persecuted community homeless.
Why it matters
The evictions leave thousands of vulnerable Rohingya refugees homeless and without basic services, raising serious human-rights concerns.
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