Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Oct 06 : The Home Department of Jammu & Kashmir has declared temporary sheds on the outskirts of Pantha Chowk area of Srinagar as a temporary holding center for illegal immigrants.
As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in a notification issued by the department, the Union Territory administration has notified 12 sheds at Pantha Chowk, Srinagar as a temporary holding center/camp for restricting the movement and providing temporary accommodation of illegal migrants.
“In exercise of the powers conferred under clause (e) of sub‑section (2) of Section 7 and Section 13 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, read with Notification S.O. 3998(E) dated 01.09.2025 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, the Lieutenant Governor, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, hereby notifies the 12 sheds situated at Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, as detailed in the annexure to this notification, to function as a temporary holding centre/camp for restricting the movement and providing temporary accommodation of illegal migrants, as defined under Section 2(b) of the Citizenship Act, 1955,” the notification reads.
The notification was issued on September 30, 2026. On Monday, the government shifted 150 Bangladeshis staying illegally in Jammu & Kashmir to their native country.
According to the notification, the illegal migrants detected by the law enforcement agencies will be lodged in the said holding Centre and it shall be ensured that these persons are physically available, at all times, for their expeditious deportation as soon as the travel documents are issued after due process of their nationality verification.
The notification further states that the officer‑in‑charge of the holding centre shall maintain requisite records and ensure security, provision of basic amenities, and compliance with all statutory safeguards.
It is pertinent to mention that as many as 150 Bangladeshi nationals who were allegedly staying illegally in Jammu and Kashmir were shifted to West Bengal on Monday to deport them to their native country—(KNO)
