Victim's kin claim threat call as BJP team visits Shamli

Lucknow: The eight-member delegation of BJP investigating the situation in Shamli was still at the home of Vinod Singhal who was murdered in August 2015 when his brother received a call warning him against speaking up. "The brother of Vinod Singhal was threatened that the entire family would be wiped out if they spoke about the murder to the delegation," said a BJP leader in the team.This was confirmed by party's chief whip and Gorakhpur MLA Dr Radha Mohan Das Agrawal, who was part of the team that visited Kairana for spot inspection to verify allegations of the 'exodus' on Wednesday. The group was headed by Saharanpur MLA and Leader of the BJP in the House Suresh Khanna,
UP BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya had sent the delegation to Kairana to take stock of the situation after BJP MP from Kairana, Hukum Singh released a list of around 346 persons said to have migrated over a period of time compelled by the law and order situation. Some members of the probe delegation claimed there were more than the 346 people reported to have migrated and more would leave at the first opportunity.
Though committee members said it was a law and order problem and there was no need to give it communal colour, a BJP leader who is part of the committee claimed that over 99.99% of those who migrated are Hindus.. The committee members, however, didn't meet any Muslim family, a member confirmed to TOI. Neither did any Muslim family came up to them with their problems, he said. Another BJP leader, also part of the committee, told TOI that in Shamli no Hindu shopkeeper can roam freely after 6pm, or else their cash and valuables are robbed. The Mittal family owns a cinema hall, but their two brothers have already migrated, they told the team members, adding that they had also packed theirs bags to leave at any opportunity.
A BJP member insisted the situation should not be given communal colour and added that it is mainly the handiwork of two criminals, who are behind the bars and have through their aides been indulging in extortion, murder and rape and enjoy support of the current people's representative in the region.
In Lucknow, UP BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya said the party upheld views of Hukum Singh, who first highlighted the issue of largely number of Hindus families making an exodus in western UP. Maurya said it was a law and order issue. Maurya said the fact finding team that went to Kairana on Wednesday is expected to submit report on Thursday and the party would announce it on June 17.