Houses demolished, livelihood denied, Muslim fishermen in Gujarat feel targeted: report

Porbandar /Gujarat: The Gujarat government launched on October 1 demolition drive in the name of coastal security in various parts of Saurashtra region's coastal areas, which the Muslim community allege as part of targeting them, according to a report in India Tomorrow.

This come alongside the report that members of the Muslim community in some places in coastal Gujarat were previously denied by authorities from carrying out their traditional livelihood of fishing.

As per the report, demolition drive has been carried out from October 1 under the garb of security and curbing anti-national activities in areas including Porbandar, Bet Dwarka, the island located off Okha coast in Devbhumi Dwarka, Jakhau.

The structures being pulled down have rendered a lot of people homeless who spent several days on the road, according to the report.

Besides houses, most of the demolished places of worship belonged to members of the Muslim community.

Mujahid Nafis of the Minority Community Coordination Committee for the area reportedly said that around 100 Muslim fishermen families in Gosabara near Porbandar lost their house in demolition drive.

He also alleged that right-wing outfits like Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal for the past 5-6 years have been targeting to wipe out the community out of the fishing business.

"Just based on their religion, these Muslim fishermen, despite having fishing licences, were not granted fishing permissions for a long time on the complaints of the right-wing outfits and Hindu fishermen association, apprehending compromise in law and order situation and anti-national activities," Nafis was quoted as saying.

Allarakha Islamailbhai Thimmar, representing 100 Muslim fishermen families in Gosabara wetlands in Porbandar, said these fishermen were denied permission to fish based on the complaints by six to seven Hindu fishermen associations backed by right-wing outfits.

Some Hindu fishermen, according to the report, raised hell against authorities that there would be trouble if Gosbara fishermen were granted permission to fish in Navibandar harbour.

One of them also alleged that anti-national activities were reported in Gosabara in the past, the report said.

Following the complaints, the Assistant Fisheries Superintendent, Porbandar, denied the fishing permission to Gosabara fishermen on March 2 this year.

In response to the ban, Thimmar filed a plea in the Gujarat High court on behalf of the Gosabara Muslim Fishermen's Society.

The plea sought mass euthanasia for around 600 people of the community in Gosabara after having been affected from discrimination by authorities, according to the report.

Afterwards, Nafis said, the authorities granted permission to the community to carry out fishing.