Kairana: Only three families migrated due to fear of extortion, investigation reveals

Investigation by the district administration, carried out to probe a BJP MP's claims of a 'Hindu Exodus' in Shamli's Kairana, have concluded that only three families have migrated from their hometown due to fear of extortion. 

"Three cases have been found of families that suffered extortion, and police enquiry was carried out. But due to the unpleasant happenings, these families have moved to places like Panipat and Surat, to establish their businesses. However, their businesses and properties still exist in Kairana," the district magistrate of Shamli said. 

Investigations have further revealed that 16 people on the 'Kairana list' have died, 27 are still residing in the area and names of seven families were repeated in the list. 

The findings contradict claims of BJP MP Hukum Singh who had released two lists that included 346 families of Kairana and 63 families of Kandhla. The MP had claimed that 346 Hindu families of Kairana had migrated fearing criminal gangs and extortionists belonging to a particular religion. 

Contrary to Hukum Singh's claims, an investigation carried out by a team comprising local police officers, officials of revenue department and district administration conducted a probe. Headed by the District magistrate Sujit Kumar, the team found out that nearly 300 Kairana residents did migrate from their hometown since 2006, but the reason behind their migration include - pursuing jobs, business interests, medical treatment and for education of children. 

"67 people are those who have left Kairana 10 years back, 179 families have left 4-5 years back, 73 of these have left within 3 years. But, they have left because of business, health and education, out of their own volition," the report of the district administration reads.

"16 people are dead, out of which three families are residing in Kairana and the rest of the other families have left years back for employment and other reasons. Names of seven families have been found duplicated. Five people are those who were government employees, like in the Municipality, and after retirement they have gone elsewhere or their ‘homeland’ or places of origin. Also, 27 families are still residing in Kairana.

"In the above, there are some cases who have moved to Shamli town or other places in Shamli district within 10 km of Kairana and out of which, many people keep coming back to Kairana often for business related or other purposes," read a portion from the report submitted to authorities here. 

The administration team had carried out a door-to-door drive, recording the statements of family members and relatives of the people named in the list released by the BJP MP. Hukum Singh had also told dna that he would be releasing a new list soon.