Vadodara: Tension prevailed in Navapura’s Godadiya Vas area on Wednesday night following a dispute over the proposed sale of a house owned by a Maharashtrian family to a Muslim buyer. Police intervened after a crowd gathered in the locality and detained three persons from both sides as a preventive measure.

According to local residents, a house in Navapura Godadiya Vas was being negotiated for sale to a Muslim buyer. The area falls under the provisions of the Disturbed Areas Act, under which permission is required for property transactions between members of different communities.

Residents alleged that a person identified as Irfan Raja had been approaching locals over the past few days seeking No Objection Certificates (NOCs) in support of the proposed transaction. Several residents reportedly refused to provide NOCs. Some locals further alleged that pressure was being exerted on them to support the sale, leading to objections and resentment in the area.

The situation escalated at around 9 pm on Wednesday when an argument reportedly broke out between a local resident, Rahul Pappanbhai Godadiya, and a Muslim youth living in the area. As news of the dispute spread, a large number of residents gathered outside the house, leading to heightened tension in the locality.

A team from Navapura police station rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. As a precautionary measure, police detained Rahul Pappanbhai Godadiya (36), along with Wasim Ismail Malek (24) and Junaid Jafar Bawarchi (24), both residents of the Muslim locality in Navapura.

Police have initiated an investigation into the incident and are examining the circumstances that led to the dispute. DeshGujarat