- By Imran Zafar
- Sat, 26 Apr 2025 06:07 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Pakistani Hindu refugees living at Delhi’s Majnu Ka Tila are increasingly anxious despite government assurances that their Long Term Visas (LTVs) will remain valid. The concern arises after India announced that visas issued to Pakistani nationals would be revoked from April 27, following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which killed 26 people.
While the Centre clarified that LTVs already granted to Hindu Pakistani nationals would not be impacted, uncertainty looms large among refugees whose visas require renewal every two years and whose applications for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, are still pending.
Delhi Police Launches Document Verification Drive
In response to the government's directive, Delhi Police have initiated a verification drive to ensure that no Pakistani nationals are staying illegally. Officials emphasised that no one would be harassed unnecessarily and that the drive aims only to verify migrants' documentation, particularly those who entered India recently.
At Majnu Ka Tila, police have collected documents from residents for verification. Refugee leader Sona Das stated that many families have lived in Delhi for years, regularly renewing their visas after verification, while several others have arrived recently, some even living in makeshift camps near Signature Bridge, reported news agency PTI.
Refugees Fear Uncertain Future
Despite the reassurances, anxiety runs deep among the community. Krishan Lal, a refugee, expressed concerns for his family, whose citizenship applications are still pending. Kanhaiya, who operates a tea stall, lamented that he has no home to return to in Pakistan, fearing displacement if asked to leave India.
Reshma, a mother of two, said her children had just started attending school and that the family had begun to dream of a stable future in India. The ongoing document checks have reignited fears of deportation among families like hers.
Citizenship Grants Bring Some Hope
Earlier, on March 11, the Centre had granted Indian citizenship to 186 Pakistani Hindus under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. However, many others are still awaiting approval. Dayal Das, who oversees another refugee camp, reported that 10 to 12 new families have arrived in the past two months, further complicating the situation.
With the April 27 deadline approaching, the Hindu refugee community remains tense, hoping that they will not face another round of displacement.
(With PTI Inputs)
