In exodus of Hindu families from Kairana, there is a pattern

Updated: Monday, June 13, 2016, 9:22 [IST]

Lucknow, June 13: The stories of mass exodus by Hindu families from the Kairana town of Shamli in Uttar Pradesh has been dominating headlines.

The BJP's Hukum Singh who will be part of a high level probe team has alleged that at least 250 families have left the village since 2014 due to threat of extortion by the Mukim Kala gang.

The District Magistrate too has ordered an inquiry into the incident. When OneIndia tried contacting some of the persons who had left the village, they expressed fear to come on record. However they did admit that they were living in fear and what made it worse was that the local administration was not ready to take their complaints seriously.

A pattern:

There have been complaints that the Hindu families were being targeted by the gang members of Mukim Kala. The intention of the gang seems to be to drive away these families and then take over their properties. After taking over these properties, they are being sold at lower prices, it has been alleged.

There are some who have refused to leave the village. However these persons allege that they keep getting extortion calls asking them to either leave the village or vacate their property. The gangsters tell them if they refuse to leave, their loved ones would be abducted or killed.

Although the police say that the figures being put out by the BJP are on the higher side, they also say that the tales of extortion are not completely untrue. The UP police following the news coming out conducted a verification of 150 addresses.

They say that in some of the cases people had migrated out of the village in search for better opportunities. There have been cases of migration that have taken place ten years back also, the police say.

The BJP however alleges that the police are covering up the issue. There have been complaints given to the police about the extortion, but most of them are never taken up. The BJP says that the UP administration cannot live in denial about the incident.

OneIndia News