A report by the National Human Rights Commission has confirmed the claims made by BJP MP Hukum Singh, who had initially said that 250 Hindu families had fled Kairana in the Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh out of fear.

In the report, compiled after interviews with relevant witnesses and victims, the commission stated that resettlement of about 25,000-30,000 members of the Muslim community in Kairana brought about a major demographic change in favour of the Muslim community. Due to this, females from the Hindu community in Kairana avoided going outside frequently.

The Commission found that over 250 Hindu families had left the town due to fear of members of the Muslim community that were a majority in the area. “At least 24 witnesses stated that the youths of the specific majority community (Muslims in this case) in Kairana town pass lewd/taunting remarks against the females of the specific minority community in town,” the report states.

During the drive, the commission visited areas affected by the exodus and confirmed that the locals were living under the fear of Mukim Kala gang which operates in the region. “The notorious gang leader Mukim Kala had committed at least 47 cases of robbery, murder, dacoity, extortion and violation of the Arms Act during a span of just 5 years between 2010 and 2015, in the states of UP, Haryana and Uttarakhand,” the report said.

A version of the commissions’ report is available on NHRC’s website.