Minority Singvad villagers flee homes fearing backlash

VADODARA: Minority residents of Singvad village in Dahod district have fled their homes fearing backlash after a fatal road accident near the village. The accident took place on March 7 at the Mander village near Singvad from where Bilkis Bano hailed, and cops are making efforts to reassure and help these families return home.
According to the police, a three-wheel goods carrier being driven by a person from the minority community was involved in an accident with a motorcycle in which one person was killed and another seriously injured.
An offence regarding the accident was registered and the van driver was arrested.
Another offence was lodged under the Atrocities Act by a man who alleged that the villagers assaulted and abused him and some others with casteist remarks when they went there looking for the vehicle that was involved in the accident.
The complainant alleged that a mob from the minority community had chased them away while objecting to their hunting for the errant vehicle.
Feroze Ghanchi, who is also a witness in the Bilkis Bano case, sent a complaint by registered post to various officials alleging that persons from the majority community created ruckus in Singvad and injured around three persons from the minority community after the accident.
Ghanchi claimed that the minority community members left the village in wake of the situation.
Dahod superintendent of police, Balram Meena said that the police was trying to remove apprehensions among the people who had deserted their homes. “A meeting of leaders of both communities has been called on Wednesday for reconciliation between the two sides. Some of these people have expressed willingness to return too,” Meena said.
According to Meena, the police has registered offences regarding the incidents on merit.
“At present, there is no law and order problem in the village. We are hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon,” he added.