Yogi govt asks police for fresh report on ‘exodus’ before its term

New Delhi :The state government has directed the DGP headquarters to send a detailed report on the “exodus” from Uttar Pradesh due to communal tension before BJP came to power here.
The move comes at a time when the crucial Kairana Lok Sabha bypolls are imminent.
The government had initially issued the order for the report on June 20, 2017. However, a reminder, along with fresh directives to the DGP and all divisional commissioners, was sent on March 29 this year, after the details compiled were found to be insufficient.
The fresh directive has asked the DGP to issue letters to all district senior superintendents and superintendents of police, instructing them to provide detailed information on those who allegedly migrated before February 28, 2017, and the reasons for the same, within a week.
The Adityanath government was sworn in on March 19, 2017.
“The new directive was issued after it was found that reports sent to us did not match with the perception of media reports or with public sentiments, particularly in west Uttar Pradesh,” said a senior official of the state home department. “All SSPs/SPs have to send detailed reports on the exodus up to February 28, 2017, to the DGP headquarters within a week. The headquarters has been tasked with studying the report and after completing its formalities, send it to the government,” the official added.
Denying any connection between the order and the upcoming bypoll, Principal Secretary, Home, Arvind Kumar said, “The first letter seeking details of exodus was sent in June last year and second order was in its continuation.” He further said, “The BJP, in its election manifesto for the 2017 polls, had promised to take effective steps to curb exodus. Following that promise, a letter has been sent to provide detailed reports about exodus victims and the reasons for their migration.”
“Since the report sent to us earlier was not as per required format, a fresh order was passed on this matter asking senior officials to check the information before sending it. The first letter was sent in June last year,” added Kumar.