Kairana 'exodus': 190 Muslims too migrated, to get a better lifestyle

Shamli district administration this week received a list of Muslim families that have apparently migrated from Kairana where BJP MP Hukum Singh had claimed a 'Hindu exodus' had been taking place due to threat of criminals belonging to a particular religion. The list handed over to the district magistrate contains names of 45 Muslim residents and has been compiled by locals who told dna that they have done so, "to bust myths of communal disharmony" in Kairana. Locals also told dna that now that they know about the "efforts being made to disrupt peace, they should be prepared the same."

While confirming the latest development in Kairana, a senior official of Shamli district administration said, "Yes we have received a list of some persons who have apparently migrated from Kairana but probing the reasons behind the migration or confirming if the list is genuine is not part of our job. The list has been compiled by some private persons who wanted to let us know that migration has taken place regardless of religious identity of persons leaving their hometowns."

Individuals behind the compilation of the list said that they have further discovered that another 145 Muslim's have left the area in the last few years and the second list will be forwarded to the district magistrate soon.

The compilers of the new list claim to have brought forward other aspects of Kairana which has been forcing people to migrate such as better job opportunities, a lack of education and proper medical facilities in the area.

Aaf Mohamad, who is part of a team of 'civilian volunteers' that prepared the list said,"Our aim is not to tell the administration that Muslim families have been forced to leave but to simply let the world know that migration of both communities has been taking place in Kairana for the last 10-15 years. There are number of reasons behind migration and crime is not the only one."

Other residents told dna that the Kairana episode had taught them a lesson that they need to stand against those spreading communal hatred ahead of elections instead of solving issues faced by people. Maulana Badar, a community leader who met with a delegation comprising of MP's from various political parties, including JD(U), CPI(M), CPI, and NCP, said, "Lack of proper schools, sub-standard health facilities and shortage of doctors are among the issues that people here face, irrespective of their religion. We only have two doctors in the area."

Arif Chaudhary, who owns a shop in Kairana, was accompanying his friend, who had lost his phone to the local police station. Interestingly, his friend's name also features in the BJP MP's list even though he currently resides in Kairana.

"BJP people visited the family of two businessmen that were killed in August 2014 to show the world that they sympathise with the victims. But they didn't come here two years ago when the murder took place,” said Arif as he began to show pictures clicked during a shutdown in 2014 called by Kairana's business community in wake of the murders of businessmen of the area.

When asked to about the strike, a senior police official confirmed that a shutdown had taken place and added, "There was a shutdown but police was already hunting down the killers of the businessmen. People here were understandably upset but we were already in process of cracking down on criminal elements in Kairana". 

"The truth is we had shutdown Kairana market following the deaths and demanded police take quick action. First we shutdown for eight days and then in the second phase the market was shut for a week. As the pressure built police and district magistrate came to meet us and assured us they will take action. Two years later entire Mukeem Kala gang is in prison," Arif said, adding that there have been discussions on how to clear Kairana's image and to really work on issues that have been forcing people to migrate.