Deferred because of winter, flood relief ops
*Preliminary exercise for revision already on
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 29: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh is likely to start in April-May next year when weather opens up in the twin Union Territories after extreme winter and conditions will be conducive for conducting such an extensive exercise.
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The Election Commission recently announced the SIR in 12 States/UTs excluding the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh besides some other States.
Sources told the Excelsior that the UT of Jammu and Kashmir is crucial from the SIR point of view due to possible inclusions of some Bangladeshis, Pakistanis or Myanmarese in the electoral rolls but it was excluded from the exercise in Phase-II in view of extreme chill which starts in most ports of the UT in November and last till April.
“The SIR exercise in both the UTs is expected to be undertaken in April-May,” they said, adding the Commission has already asked its representatives in the twin UTs to carry out preliminary exercise before the SIR is commenced.
Elections to the Panchayats, Municipalities, Block Development Councils (BDCs) and District Development Councils (DDCs) are due in Jammu and Kashmir but there appears to be no indications that they will be held immediately. While Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) polls are due since October-November 2023, term of the DDCs is expiring in January next year.
If the Government decides to hold Local Body elections in April-May, the SIR can be extended. However, if the polls are not announced, the revision is expected to start then.
“Apart from extreme weather conditions, recent floods in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand were among the reasons for deferring the Special Intensive Revision in these States and UTs,” the sources said, adding the Election Commission was of the view that the administration’s efforts aimed at relief and rehabilitation of flood victims and infrastructure damaged in flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in August shouldn’t be hampered.
As per the sources, the relief and rehabilitation exercise will be almost over in the next few months.
There have been reports that besides Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and some other States; the illegal immigrants have also been a major threat in Jammu and Kashmir especially the Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. Reports indicated that some of them have managed to get voter cards and other documents like Aadhaar card etc through manipulation.
“A number of them might have been enrolled as voters,” they said.
In 2021, the State Election Commission had to cancel election to two District Development Council (DDC) seats including Drugmulla in Kupwara and Hajin A in Bandipora district of the Kashmir valley as it was established after elections that the winner women belonged to Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) and had managed to enroll them as voters in the UT. A re-election was later held on both seats.
There has been presence of Rohingyas in Jammu district and some of them have even managed to reach Rajouri, Poonch, Ramban and Doda districts posing themselves either as locals or from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Few days back, police disconnected power and water supply to plots in Channi Himmat where Rohingyas were putting up. Following action, the Rohingyas left the place.
It was in December last year when the authorities started acting tough against the illegal immigrants settled here in rented, semi-constructed houses etc deciding to cut electricity and water supplies to ensure that they not only retreat from the Jammu region but a message is sent out to others also who planned to migrate, that they are not getting facilities here.
Rohingyas had earlier managed to establish themselves in the system, opening bank accounts, acquiring electricity and water connections, and obtaining essential documents such as Aadhaar cards, ration cards and domicile certificates.
As per the latest figures, there are around 6500 Myanmarese in Jammu district, their ‘bastis’ mainly confined to Narwal Bhatindi, Railway Station, Qasim Nagar, Channi Rama etc, around 550 in Samba and 200 at Hiranagar Holding Centre in Kathua district.
Some of the sources put the number of Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals settled in Jammu at 13,700. Their population is reported to have increased between 2008 and 2014.
While major population of Rohingyas is mainly confined to outskirts of the Jammu City and Samba district, few families have also managed to reach Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch districts because of the support arranged by some organizations and individuals.
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