Bhavnagar: The Bhavnagar Diamond Association along with Botad and Rammantra Mandir Diamond Association observed bandh today in protest of the case registered against 4 people, including the president of the Bhavnagar Diamond Association.

Two days ago, the city civic body sealed the Madhavratna Building in the Nirmal Nagar area due to a lack of fire safety standards and life safety instruments. The main door of the building was sealed, however, as the back door was not sealed, the traders kept the business open as usual. Upon receiving this information, the fire department instructed the traders to close their offices.

Following this, the first officer of the Fire department filed a complaint at the Nilambagh police station against four office bearers, including the president of the Diamond Association, for obstructing government servants from performing their duty. Madhav Ratna Building houses over 700 offices, and the fire department sealed the building after serving several prior notices to the building.

After the complaint, the matter escalated as jewelers took out a rally from Bortalav-Kumdwadi in support of the Diamond Association and presented a memorandum to the District Collector’s office. The association alleges that the civic body demands that they should fill a bond to get the building unsealed, and they also accuse that the whole action is taken due to political pressure. DeshGujarat