Gujarat’s Disturbed Areas Act pushes Muslims into ghettos, reveals News Laundry report
Vadodara: A ground report published by News Laundry, authored by journalist Basant Kumar, has brought to light the grave challenges faced by Muslims in Gujarat in acquiring property due to the controversial Disturbed Areas Act. The report highlights how this law, coupled with active local opposition, has led to the effective ghettoisation of Muslim communities across several cities in the state.
The story focuses on a specific case from Vadodara, where a Muslim resident named Onali has been engaged in a prolonged legal battle to gain possession of land he purchased in 2016 in the Champaner Darwaza area of Fatehpura. Despite acquiring the land legally, Onali was denied permission by the Deputy Collector’s office to transfer ownership under the provisions of the Disturbed Areas Act. The rejection came after the Assistant Police Commissioner recommended against granting the transfer.
Facing bureaucratic dead ends, Onali finally moved the Gujarat High Court, which ruled in his favour in 2019. However, as of June 2025, he has still not been able to take possession of the property. The delay, he alleges, is due to strong local Hindu opposition, including from BJP leaders and former corporators, who fear that an increase in the Muslim population in the area would eventually drive Hindus away.
Adding to the obstruction, two witnesses to the land sale, a Muslim shopkeeper named Farhan and another man, Keshav Rana, later claimed in court that they were misled into signing the documents. The High Court reprimanded both witnesses and fined them Rs 25,000 each, holding them accountable for attempting to sabotage the legal process under pressure from local Hindu groups.
According to the News Laundry report, such incidents are not isolated. Dozens of similar cases are currently pending in courts across Gujarat. The report critically examines the history, intent, and misuse of the Disturbed Areas Act, pointing out how the legislation has been used by successive BJP governments to restrict property transactions and movement of Muslim citizens, often citing communal balance as justification.
The law, originally introduced to prevent forced migration and illegal sale of properties during communal disturbances, has allegedly evolved into a tool of discrimination. The result, says the report, is the increasing ghettoisation of Muslim populations in Gujarat, further alienating them from urban integration and equal opportunities.
This report is based on a ground investigation published by News Laundry on July 3, 2025. Full credit to journalist Basant Kumar for the original reporting.
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Seven arrested in Manipal for ganja, LSD peddling, consumption
Udupi (Karnataka), Aug 18 (PTI): Seven individuals were arrested in Manipal on charges of peddling and consuming narcotics, including ganja and LSD, police said here on Monday.
Four of the accused—Ajish (28), Vipin (32), Bipin (24), and Akhil (26), all from Kerala—were first apprehended after their samples tested positive for ganja consumption. Interrogation revealed that they were being supplied by Manish (34) of Kasaragod.
A raid at Manish’s flat in Vidyaratna Nagar on August 17 recovered 653 grams of ganja, digital scales, a crusher, cash, and a mobile phone. He has been remanded to judicial custody and is counted among the seven arrested.
Separately, a raid on August 16 at a rented room in Ishwara Nagara led to the arrest of Afshin (26) from Kerala and Shivanidhi Acharya (20) of Udupi. Police recovered 1.237 kg of ganja, 0.038 grams of LSD strips, and related paraphernalia.
Investigations indicated that the accused had been targeting both students and migrant workers in Manipal and Mangaluru. The operation was coordinated under the guidance of Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar.
