53 Rohingyas test positive for Covid-19 at holding centre in J&K's Kathua

INDIA TODAY

Sunil Bhat

Jammu

May 28, 2021

The 53, out of over 200 Rohingyas at the Hiranagar Sub-Jail in Kathua district, have been quarantined. All of them are reportedly asymptomatic and are under the supervision of prison doctors.

All the remaining inmates would be tested on Thursday and Friday to stop the virus from spreading further. (PTI file image of Rohingya refugees in Jammu)

As many as 53 Rohingya were found Covid-19 positive at the Hiranagar Sub-Jail in Jammu's Kathua district during a three-day testing drive, officials informed on Wednesday.

All those who have tested positive are asymptomatic and have been isolated by the authorities. "A total of 53 Rohingyas were found positive during screening since Monday and all of them are asymptomatic. We are keeping a watch on their condition," PTI quoted Chief Medical Officer, Kathua, Ashok Chaudhary as saying.

Reportedly, all the remaining inmates would be tested on Thursday and Friday to stop the virus from spreading further. The entire prison premises has also been sanitised.

Meanwhile, the officials also informed that 58 eligible Rohingyas have already been inoculated in a vaccination drive on April 6.

Earlier this year in March, a verification drive of Rohingyas was carried out in Jammu on the instructions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Following that, over 200 Rohingyas were lodged at the Hiranagar Sub-Jail in Kathua district which was converted into a holding centre. They were found to be living in Jammu without valid documents.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has initiated the deportation process of these Rohingyas. They are a Bengali-dialect speaking Muslim minority, who fled from Myanmar after facing religious persecution there.

The Rohingyas entered India illegally through the borders of Bangladesh and took shelter in Jammu and various other parts of the country.

Government data suggests that over 13,700 foreigners, including Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshi nationals, are settled in Jammu and Kashmir's Jammu and Samba districts. Their population is believed to have increased by over 6,000 between 2008 and 2016.

According to a Hindustan Times report, the prison authorities have not received any orders from the higher echelons to release the refugees. They claim to possess the ability to treat the Covid-19 patients inside the holding centre itself.

Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday reported a total of 3,037 new Covid-19 cases and 40 deaths, while the figures were 2,964 cases and 53 deaths.

ALSO READ: Rohingyas in India: Can Supreme Court intervene if Centre follows deportation process, asks CJI

ALSO READ: SC to hear plea for release of detained Rohingya refugees in Jammu on March 25

Link : Here