An investigation team sent by the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh to Kairana has found that 160 Muslim families also left the region in the past 10 years, reported The Indian Express. The team comprising five religious figures led by godman Acharya Pramod Krishnam said that there has been a spike in crime in the area and local legislators are to be blamed for that.

"One thing is clear, that exodus of Hindu families did not take place because of fear of Muslims as claimed. Prima facie, it appears like a dangerous conspiracy to disturb the atmosphere of entire Uttar Pradesh before the 2017 polls," Krishnam said.

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The 13-page report put together by the delegation has names of at least 11 politicians, including SP MLA Naheed Hassan, MLC Virendra Singh, whose support has led to the rise of criminal gangs operating in the neighbourhood. The fact-finding team has recommended action under the National Security Act against leaders like BJP MP Hukum Singh, MLA Sangeet Singh Som and Sadhvi Prachi who has delivered hate speeches in the past.

Krishnam said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has promised strict action against those named in the report. “We were asked to look into the allegations of exodus and some of the results have been surprising. First of all, while we found that large number of people on the list actually are living there, neighbours and relatives of those migrated informed that they left for work or education," he told the English daily.

The region has been embroiled in a controversy after Bharatiya Janata Party MP and Muzaffarnagar riots accused Hukum Singh had claimed that a total of 346 families were forced to leave the town because of threats and extortion by “a particular community”, a veiled reference to Muslims in the area. He had later claimed it was not a communal issue. Uttar Pradesh will go to polls next year.