Gujarat: Tension In Rajkot After 3 Shops On Mosque Premises 'Forcefully' Evicted

On being questioned, the people who evicted the shops, presented documents bearing the Gujarat State Waqf Board letterhead, dated December 19, 2024, granting approval for the eviction.

A group of people 'forcefully' evicted three shops on Nawab Masjid premises in Gujarat's Rajkot.

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A group of people on Wednesday "forcefully" evicted three shopkeepers in Gujarat's Rajkot on Wednesday, claiming that the properties where their shops were built belonged to the Gujarat Waqf Board. This sparked tensions in the area as the group allegedly broke the locks and throwed out the shopkeepers' wares forcibly. They also claimed that the shops, which are located on the premises of the Nawab Masjid, were illegally transferred to their descendants.

Following the forced eviction, a complaint was filed against five people who were involved in the incident. According to the police complaint, the three shops were rented to Hindu businessmen around 60 years ago, India Today reported.

On being questioned, the people presented documents bearing the Gujarat State Waqf Board letterhead, dated December 19, 2024, granting approval for the eviction.

The letter also stated that the shopkeepers illegally transferred their tenancy to their descendants without the necessary approval. Gujarat State Waqf Board and the trustee of the shops also cited unpaid taxes and pending electricity bills of 15 years, seeking immediate repossession, the report said.

The complaint highlighted that the letter from the Waqf Board laid down a process for taking possession of the shops legally. This included sending three legal notices to the tenants, talking to them, drafting a new rent agreement, informing the police about the notice, and then taking the required legal action. The complaint, however, said that these steps were not followed.

Farooq Masani, who was involved in the eviction, said: "We have taken over the shops after getting the order of the Gujarat Waqf Board. The shops have been closed for years and are in a dilapidated condition. The mosque is also getting damaged. We have followed the order we got."

Meanwhile, local BJP MLA Darshita Shah met the Rajkot Police Commissioner following the incident and sought action against the eviction which was done in an "illegal manner".

"I met the commissioner after the incident. I asked him to launch a probe and to ensure that no such incident happens in the future. The letter by the Waqf Board provided for a streamlined process for the eviction of shops, which was not followed. The eviction was illegal. I have asked the commissioner to take action against those involved in the act," Shah said.