The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken congisance of the reports of exodus or migration of people from Kairana area of Shamli district following threat from criminals from a particular community and has directed the State Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) to submit an action taken report within eight weeks on the eight-point recommendation made by the Commission on its own enquiry report.
In its 20-point report on the charges of mass exodus and migration of a particular community from Kairana, released for the media here on Wednesday, the Commission said that it was found to be correct that the victim Guddi of Kashyap family was kidnapped on April 4,2016 and was subsequently murdered by Kurban, Mohsin and others. The police did not lodge the complaint after she went missing but did so after her body was found.
Besides the police also framed two relatives of the victims along with the accused people though the family protest and the police did not act as per the law. The enquiry report of the Commission held by a DIG rank officer said at least 24 witnesses stated that the youths of the specific majority community (Muslims) in Kairana town pass lewd/taunting remarks against the females of the specific minority community in Kairana town. Due to this, females of the specific minority community (Hindus) in Kairana town avoid going outside frequently. However, they could not gather courage to report the matter to the police for the legal action.
Some of the displaced persons also verified that it was one of the reasons for their migration from Kairana Town. The registration of three FIRs u/s 294 IPC in PS Kairana by the police Constables/SI on duty clearly proves that such incidents used to occur against the females of minority (Hindu) community.
The police record reveals that both Shiv Charan and Rajender (two businessmen) were threatened to pay protection/extortion money by the notorious gangster Mukeem Kala. Similarly, four other prominent businessmen of Kairana Market shown in the list issued by the MP Kairana.
The notorious dreaded gang leader Mukim Kala had committed at least 47 cases of Robbery/Murder/ Dacoity/Extortion/Violation of Arms Act during the span of just 5 years from 2010 to 2015, in the States of UP, Haryana, Uttarakhand involving amount of crores of rupees and robbing of government’s Arms and Ammunitions.
Two petrol pumps of Hindustan Petroleum Company and of Indian Oil Company, were shut down 8-10 years ago in Kairana due to non-payment of money for the petroleum products by persons with criminal tendencies of Kairana and threatening the workers/owners of both the petrol pumps. In 2013, the post-rehabilitation scenario resulting in resettlement of about 25,000- 30,000 members of Muslims Community in Kairana Town from district Muzaffarnagar, UP, the demography of Kairana town has changed in favour of the Muslim Community becoming the more dominating and majority community. Most of the witnesses examined and victims feel that the rehabilitation in 2013 has permanently changed the social situation in Kairana town and has led to further deterioration of law and order situation.
Most of the witnesses stated that many families migrated due to threats pertaining to increase in crime and deterioration of law and Order situation. The enquiry team of the commission alleged that the DM and SP of Shamli and incharge of Kairana police station did not provide the requisite record to the NHRC team regarding movement of police force on different occasions such as prevailing tensions between both the communities during religious processions, record of complaints received in their respective offices as requested.
The NHRC started the enquiry on a complaint of a Supreme Court lawyer Ms Monika Arora who is also associated with an NGO saying that the people of a particular community were leaving Kairana after being threatened by criminals of another community. The recommendations made by the NHRC enquiry team are : Grant of additional financial assistance of Rs. 4 lakh each to the widows of the three deceased businessmen as proposed by DM of Shamli ,to get at least one Petrol Pump in Kairana town opened in collaboration with a Public Sector firm, by providing fool proof security by the UP Police, to enable the people to lead normal daily life, the Commissioner of Saharanpur and the DM of Shamli may be instructed to get regular meetings of the religious and political leaders organized of both the communities at sub-divisional and mohalla level to sort out their differences in amicable manner from time to time to maintain harmony and spirit of brotherhood in Kairana Town and a high-level committee of the UP government may be constituted to meet each of the displaced families from Kairana Town now living in districts of Dehradun, Panipat, Muzaffarnagar, Roorki, Karnal of Uttarakhand and Haryana states in order to redress their grievances and facilitate their return to Kairana, if so desired.
The Commission team has also demanded impartial enquiry into all the crimes which led to the exodus of the people besides to hold a fair and impartial trial of Mukim Kala and his associates and Furkhan and his associates as there is apprehension that witnesses would not be able to depose against them due to their fear and terror. The District administration and the Police should also undertake appropriate measures to instill a sense of security among the people of Kairana and to strengthen their faith in the rule of law, they said.
To take all necessary steps for improving law and order situation in Kairana so as to restore the faith of the people in the law and order machinery so that people are not forced to migrate due to activities of local criminals and extortion rackets in future, it further said. During inquiry, the NHRC team visited different places in Kairana town, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar,and Panipat in Haryana. The team also examined relevant witnesses, victims, independent witnesses, concerned police officials and SDM. Copies of relevant records were also obtained and analyzed. Team also obtained list of 346 displaced families/persons from BJP MP from Kairana Hukum Singh. Out of that list 3 residential localities were selected and at random at least six alleged victims/displaced families/persons were chosen for verification. The team also had telephonic verification from at least four displaced families mentioned in the above list who had migrated to distant places such as Dehradun (Uttarakhand) and Surat (Gujarat) from Kairana Town.