The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has sprung to action after a complaint was received on NaMo app, which claimed that at least 125 Hindu families have migrated from Prahlad Nagar in Meerut because of harassment of Hindu women by Muslims in the area.
Prahlad Nagar which comes under the Lisadi Gate police circle is predominantly a Muslim dominated area with about 425 Hindu families residing there.
The complaint which was registered on the app by a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bhavesh Mehta on June 11 alleged that in Prahlad Nagar, around 125 Hindu families have migrated to “safer” localities after selling their property. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), on the same day, forwarded the complaint to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). And the CMO, in turn, sought a report on the matter.
As per reports, the women of the Hindu families in Prahlad Nagar are living under constant threats. Fearing harassment from Muslims and alleging lack of action from the police, the Hindu residents have been migrating from the area. The local Hindu residents claim that crimes like eve-teasing, harassment, theft, snatching are “routine” matters in the area. They also informed that they are threatened by the locals if anyone dares to raise their voice against the atrocities. Moreover, these families also alleged that objectionable things are often thrown in front of their houses if they try to voice their resentment.
A local resident claimed, “We avoid moving out unless we are accompanied by a male member. We complain to the police but they invariably hush up the case. We hope that the government takes some action and makes life bearable for us”.
Despite such assertions, a senior police officer rubbished any such claims. The police officer maintained that “When people start earning more, they prefer to move to bigger houses. There has been no panic in the area and complaints of harassment of women have been dealt with strictly,” the official in the rank of an ASP said.
He alleged that a television channel had stoked the controversy. “You people sensationalize minor incidents and increase the communal divide,” he said.
Nevertheless, the Hindus who are in an urgency to move out of Prahlad Nagar, are being forced to dispose of their houses at rates much lesser than the current market value. Many houses in the area still display the “for sale” notice. The latest Hindu family to leave their house in Prahlad Nagar was reported on June 25, 2019.
Local BJP MP Rajendra Agarwal said that the situation was “serious” and he will speak to the Chief Minister in this regard. The Vishwa Hindu Mahasangh has also written a letter to the Chief Minister, seeking security for Hindus in Meerut.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has directed senior police and civil officials to mobilise the local intelligence units and deal firmly with complaints in this regard. After receiving instruction from the CMO, the SSP passed on the order to the Kotwali police station on June 13 to expedite the inquiry.
In March 2018, there were reports where poor Hindu families living in Muslim-majority Panchali Buzurg village in Meerut, UP had also been forced to flee their village due to harassment by some locals and apathy of local police
Last year in June, clashes between two communities owing to a trivial argument over the credit of supply of cold drinks had forced a Hindu family to flee from their village, Banheda Khas, in Devbandh, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier in 2016, a report by NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) reported exodus of over 250 Hindu families from Kairana in Shamli district of western Uttar Pradesh. The inquiry was undertaken after a complaint was received of a woman belonging to Kashyap caste was abducted, gang-raped and killed.
