NHRC full panel to study Kairana exodus report

NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission has decided to place before the full commission the findings of the Uttar Pradesh government and police on the exodus of 250 Hindu families from Kairana for alleged "atrocities" and "deteriorating" law and order situation. Interacting with reporters on the Foundation Day of NHRC on Friday, its chairperson and former Chief Justice of India HL Dattu said, "The Commission received the reports this week.We have not gone through it. It will be examined by the full commission.

Last month, NHRC report on Kairana exodus had stated that many families had migrated from there out of fear after facing constant threats. It had stated that the families had indeed left the town following threats from the members of a particular community , who constitute the "majority in the area".

"At least 24 witnesses stated that the youths of the majority community (Muslims in this case) in Kairana town pass lewd taunting remarks against the females of the specific minority community in 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 police for legal action," NHRC had stated in its report.

The report said resettlement of over 25,000 members of the minority community in the aftermath of the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots had led to a major change in the demography of many towns in the region, including Kairana. NHRC's findings were in line with allegations by BJP MP Hukum Singh earlier this year.

The National Commission for Minorities had, however, slammed NHRC findings. A NCM team, led by member-in-charge for Uttar Pradesh Farida Abdullah Khan, had said that certain findings in the NHRC report "seemed baseless". "We met some local families and spoke to the local administration.We found that there was no evidence to suggest there had been an exodus of any kind. " she had said.

HL Dattu said on Friday that the National Human Rights Commission investigation division had visited Kairana and conducted a detailed investigation and its report was accepted by the Commission.