Hindus demand extension of Disturbed Areas Act in Khambhat; submit memorandum to Collector

Anand: The local Hindu community of Khambhat city has submitted a memorandum to the District Collector, demanding an extension of the Disturbed Areas Act for another 25 years. This move comes as the term of the Disturbed Areas Act, currently imposed in Khambhat, is set to expire on February 20. The Hindu community members have also requested that the Act be extended to more areas of the city.

In the memorandum submitted to the Anand District Collector on behalf of the Hindu community, it was stated that despite the Disturbed Areas Act being in place in Khambhat, a highly sensitive area in Anand district, for the past five years, members of the minority community have allegedly attempted to encroach on houses and seize properties in Hindu-populated areas. A sense of fear has grown, particularly after a recent incident where miscreants allegedly entered the city police station, tore a policeman’s uniform, and assaulted him. In light of these concerns, the Hindu community has urged the authorities to extend the Disturbed Areas Act for 25 more years, considering the city’s geographical and social conditions. The petition was submitted along with over 30 letters from Hindu community organizations and recommendation letters from BJP leaders addressed to the Chief Minister.

In another development, Dinesh Chandra Manilal Patel, Sarpanch of Shakarpur Gram Panchayat, near Khambhat, has also submitted a written representation to the Collector on behalf of the Gram Panchayat. In his letter, he highlighted that since the stone-pelting incident during the Ram Navami procession on April 10, 2022, properties belonging to poor Hindus in Shakarpur have allegedly been purchased by members of the minority community, and cases of love jihad and other incidents have reportedly increased. Citing multiple representations from the Hindu community, he urged the authorities to consider their concerns and implement the Disturbed Areas Act in Shakarpur village as well. DeshGujarat