Shamli: Police in western UP are investigating complaints that several Hindu families in Kairana, a small town in the Shamli district, have been forced to flee after targeted attacks.
According to reports, BJP lawmaker from Kairana, Hukum Singh, has alleged that 346 families have been forced to flee the town, which has 85% Muslim population.
Police however have denied that there has been such a large migration.
BJP MP and Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan has also accused the Samajwadi Party government of patronising those behind the violence against Hindus.
However, SP spokesperson Juhi Parmar has denied the charges, instead accusing Balyan of trying to create a polarized atmosphere.
Accusing the BJP of dividing people on castes and religious lines, Congress leader Basheer Ahmad asked, “Why did Hukum Singh keep mum when people were being killed and exodus began?”
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report within four weeks from the Akhilesh Yadav government on the issue, terming the allegations as ‘serious in nature’.
The move came on a complaint that a Hindu woman was gang-raped and murdered in the town recently, but no action was taken due to political pressure.
UP goes to elections in 2017, and tensions have recently risen in the state over villagers from Greater Noida’s Bisada village demanding filing of an FIR against Mohammad Akhlaq’s family for allegedly consuming beef.
