Jammu, Aug 11: Central high-level “Committee on Demographic Changes” on the second day of its visit to Jammu, on Tuesday, visited Jagti satellite township of displaced Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) at Nagrota and Rohingya settlement at Narwal in Jammu outskirts and held deliberations there.

The panel has a specific mandate to “conduct a comprehensive assessment of the demographic changes occurring across border districts due to illegal immigration and other abnormal reasons.”

During their visit to Jagti camp, the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India Mritunjay Kumar Narayan joined by three other members of the panel held a closed-door meeting with the representatives of displaced KPs and listened to the issues and suggestions.

Following the meeting, the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (migrants) Arvind Karwani, while responding to media queries, said that the panel, as per its mandate, was interacting with the officials as well as public delegations. The panel listened to the concerns and demands of displaced KPs during the meeting, including issues related to their return to Kashmir, he said.

KP representatives, who participated in the deliberations, stated that they apprised the panel about their issues related to basic amenities, relief and their safe and dignified return to Kashmir. Demand to recognise KPs as “survivors of genocide” and not as migrants was also raised before the panel, they maintained.

Later, the panel inspected Rohingya Basti (settlement) in Narwal for assessment purposes. The panel members also met the delegations of PoJK refugees, Gorkha community besides other stakeholders on the second day. 

The panel arrived on its maiden 3-day visit to Jammu on Monday to visit different parts of the region with particular focus on border districts and specific areas with undocumented settlement of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.

On the first day of its visit, met the Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and the Director General of Police (DGP) besides other crucial stakeholders.

The panel is likely to interact with top brass of the J&K government, UT administration besides other stakeholders.

“The high-level committee, headed by retired Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar, will assess demographic developments in Jammu during its August 10–12 visit. The committee’s first Jammu and Kashmir visit will focus on assessing reported demographic changes, including those attributed to illegal infiltration. The team is scheduled to interact with officials and visit affected and border areas,” official sources maintained.

The Government of India in May this year had constituted this “High-level Committee on Demographic Change” under the chairmanship of Retired Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar, in consonance with the announcement of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the ‘High-powered Demography Mission’ on August 15, 2025.

The Union Cabinet gave its approval to this proposal on September 11, 2025.

In addition to the Census Commissioner, three distinguished experts — Durga Shankar Mishra (retired IAS), Balaji Srivastava (retired IPS) and Dr. Shamika Ravi are the members of the Committee.

The Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I), Ministry of Home Affairs is the member secretary of the Committee.

This Committee will submit its report within one year. If necessary, the Ministry of Home Affairs may extend the tenure of the Committee by up to six months.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, while announcing its constitution, had described “illegal infiltration and other reasons leading to unnatural demographic change as a very big challenge for the present and future of the nation.”

“Demographic change is a serious problem linked not only to our sovereignty but also to national security, law and order, major changes in social structure, and the protection of tribal societies. This Committee will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the demographic changes occurring across India due to illegal immigration and other abnormal reasons. It will analyse the patterns of abnormal population changes at the level of religious and social communities and will present a well-planned and time-bound solution to address the issue,” he had asserted.

Officially speaking, the high-level committee will scientifically assess the demographic changes occurring in various parts of the country due to illegal immigration and other abnormal reasons, analyse their causes, and recommend appropriate policy, legislative, and administrative measures.

Ramban, Aug 11: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained open for regulated two-way traffic on Tuesday, even as fresh overnight rainfall and damaged road stretches caused slow movement at several vulnerable locations, particularly in the Udhampur and Ramban districts.

Traffic authorities said Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and heavy vehicles were being allowed to move on the highway from both Srinagar and Jammu sides, subject to prevailing road and weather conditions.

However, traffic remained slow at Dewal in Udhampur, where movement is being regulated through a single-lane stretch of around 30-40 metres due to damaged and uneven road surface.

Slow movement was also reported on the Maroog-KishtwariPather stretch in Ramban district, where traffic is passing through a single-lane portion amid ongoing highway construction and road damage.

The situation was further aggravated by the breakdown of three vehicles between Nashri and Banihal, resulting in temporary congestion and delays along the busy highway.

In view of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast of rainfall over the coming days, traffic authorities have advised commuters, transporters, and other road users to confirm the latest status of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway before commencing their journey.

Passengers and LMV operators have particularly been advised to prefer daytime travel between Ramban and Banihal and avoid night journeys, keeping in view the possibility of shooting stones, landslides, and other weather-related hazards.

Travellers have also been cautioned against unnecessary stoppages at vulnerable locations.

Traffic authorities urged motorists to maintain lane discipline and avoid overtaking, wrong-lane driving, and other traffic violations, warning that such practices could lead to congestion and disrupt regulated traffic movement.

Goods-carrier operators transporting fresh and perishable commodities and livestock have been directed to comply with prescribed loading norms.

Heavy vehicle operators have also been advised to avoid overloading, ensure proper vehicle fitness, and carry adequate fuel before undertaking the journey.

For Wednesday, authorities said that, subject to fair weather and satisfactory road conditions, passenger LMVs, private cars, and heavy vehicles and goods carriers would be permitted to ply on the highway from both directions.

Commuters have been advised to remain updated through the Traffic Control Units at Srinagar, Ramban, and Jammu and follow official advisories before and during their journey.

Jammu, Aug 11: Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Sunil Sharma on Tuesday expressed solidarity with students protesting in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities, corruption and paper leaks in recruitment examinations, and accused opposition parties of maintaining double standards on student issues.

Addressing a press conference here, Sharma said the ongoing student agitation was a struggle for justice, transparency and accountability, and reiterated his demand for an impartial probe, including by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), into the alleged irregularities.

BJP National Secretary and Jammu South MLA Narinder Singh and party spokespersons Vikram Malhotra and Zorawar Jamwal were also present.

Sharma noted that students had been raising their demands peacefully, within the ambit of law and the Constitution, and questioned the alleged use of force against them.

“If students are raising their demands peacefully and within the ambit of law and the Constitution, why should they face lathicharge or harassment? Why is there silence on this issue today?” he asked.

He alleged that opposition parties, which recently raised their voice over student-related issues, were now silent on the Jharkhand agitation.

Sharma questioned whether recent protests by opposition leaders purportedly in support of students reflected genuine concern or were motivated by political interests.

“Today, we want to ask all those parties where their morality is and where their voice has gone. A few days ago, you were raising slogans, protesting and making every effort to create instability in the country. Where has that voice gone today?” he said.

Targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Sharma accused the Congress and its allies of adopting a double standard on issues concerning students.

He also referred to the Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party and other opposition parties, urging the youth to expose what he described as their “double standards, double politics and double character”.

“The youth are the foundation of the country’s future. They should not become a tool in the hands of political parties seeking to create instability or disorder,” Sharma said.

He appealed to the younger generation not to fall prey to attempts to politicise genuine grievances and urged students to continue raising their concerns through peaceful and constitutional means.

Sharma said the BJP stood in solidarity with the Jharkhand students “fighting for justice” and reiterated that allegations of recruitment examination irregularities should be investigated through a credible, impartial and time-bound mechanism.

He also criticised the Congress leadership in Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that the party had earlier been vocal on student protests and alleged harassment but was now silent on the Jharkhand issue.

“From Jammu and Kashmir, I want to ask the Congress party here why its voice has gone silent today. Until recently, its leaders were coming out in support of protests and raising their voice over alleged harassment of students,” he said.

Sharma alleged that certain political forces were attempting to create an atmosphere of instability and disorder in the country and claimed that the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir had often remained at the forefront of such political campaigns.

He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir were entitled to question the local Congress leadership over its stand on the Jharkhand students’ agitation.

Sharma reiterated that recruitment examinations must be conducted fairly and transparently and that students’ legitimate grievances should be addressed through dialogue and due process rather than coercive measures.

Jammu, Aug 11: Ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday conducted long-range patrolling and an anti-terror mock drill in Samba district to assess operational preparedness, strengthen security arrangements and ensure prompt response to any contingency, an official said.

The long-range patrolling was conducted by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, covering nearly 20 km from Jatwal to Lala Chak along the Jammu-Pathankot national highway, a spokesman said.

He said it was followed by a mock drill at the border police post in Lala Chak to assess preparedness of personnel in dealing with a simulated terror attack scenario.

During the exercise, two simulated terrorists were shown carrying out an attack on an establishment. In response, SOG personnel established a cordon around the area and successfully neutralised the simulated threat, the spokesman said.

He said the exercise was aimed at testing the response mechanism, coordination, tactical preparedness and contingency-handling capabilities of personnel.

Samba Senior Superintendent of Police Anuj Kumar reiterated police’s commitment of maintaining robust security arrangements and ensuring safety of the public, particularly in view of the upcoming Independence Day celebrations.