Rajkot Shops Stormed Under Alleged Waqf Orders
On New Year’s Eve 31st December, a group of 25 individuals led by Farooq Musani vandalized shops belonging to Hindu traders in Rajkot, Gujarat, claiming possession under a Gujarat Waqf Board order. The accused broke the locks of the shops in the Old Danapith area, threw out merchandise onto the streets, and demanded the shops be handed over to the Nawab Masjid Trust.
5 booked for allegedly threatening man to vacate shop as Waqf board property#Rajkot #Gujarat #TV9Gujarati #TV9News pic.twitter.com/3Z0HS3EVAt
— Tv9 Gujarati (@tv9gujarati) January 1, 2025
The Rajkot Police have registered a complaint against Musani and five others under multiple sections, while investigations are ongoing to verify the validity of the Waqf Board’s order.
Victim Speaks Out
One of the shop owners, Virendrabhai Kotecha, filed a complaint stating that the mob stormed his shop without prior notice, forcibly breaking locks and throwing out goods. Speaking to OpIndia, he said, “They forcibly broke the locks and discarded our goods onto the streets. Even now, many of my belongings are lying outside.”
Kotecha also revealed that the Waqf Board order presented by Musani was dated December 19th, but no notices were issued to the shop owners before the eviction, as required by law. “According to the rules, three prior notices must be served, but we received none. They directly broke the locks, violating the procedures,” he explained.
Police Confirm Encroachment on PWD Land
Following the incident, police investigations revealed that the properties being claimed as Waqf land actually belong to the Public Works Department (PWD) and were unlawfully encroached upon. Rajkot DCP Zone-2, Jagdish Bangarwa, confirmed that the Waqf Board’s regulations for eviction were not followed, which include serving notices and conducting evictions in the presence of police.
A bunch of islamist buffoons brainwashed by Whatsapp messages claimed 3 Hindu shops as Waqf property, broke the lock in midnight and threw all the belongings out from the shop.
Arrested now pic.twitter.com/v7vg3LgH9x
— Hindutva Knight (@HPhobiaWatch) January 3, 2025
“Since the rules were not followed, action has been initiated,” Bangarwa stated. The possessions of the shops were returned to the Hindu traders, and further action against the accused is underway.
Brazenness of the Waqf Board Under Scrutiny
The Waqf Board’s increasingly audacious actions in claiming properties have raised serious concerns. While their violations are now being exposed more frequently, the Waqf Board appears to be acting with desperation, aware that the unlawful powers granted to it during Congress rule may soon be curtailed.
This incident is reminiscent of a lamp flickering strongly before being extinguished, as the Waqf Board’s baseless claims and unlawful actions come under greater public and governmental scrutiny.
A Larger Issue of Accountability
The brazenness displayed in Rajkot shows the urgent need for reforms to hold the Waqf Board accountable for its actions. From illegal land claims to bypassing due processes, these incidents highlight the misuse of powers and the systemic issues that have allowed such violations to occur.
The Rajkot incident serves as a reminder that the unchecked authority of the Waqf Board must be addressed. The time has come for decisive action to ensure that the rights of citizens, particularly Hindu traders in this case, are protected from unlawful encroachments.
The brazenness of these actions signals a shift, as the Waqf Board likely senses that its unchecked powers may soon be reined in. The government must act swiftly to prevent such incidents from repeating and restore faith in the rule of law.