Bandh ends peacefully

A bandh was observed in Naroda on Saturday to protest the arrest of Maya Kodnani and Jaideep Patel by SIT. Though the entire day passed without any untoward incident, the members of the minority community living in the Naroda Patia were little nervous. There was a tight police bandobast in the area.

Ashok Patel, a resident of Naroda and a friend of Jaideep Patel said, “The residents of Naroda have given a great response to the bandh. Everybody kept their shops and businesses closed. No one was forced to down shutters. This shows people’s anger towards arrest of their leaders. These complainants should be examined under narco-test, only then the truth will come out.”

But Nazirkhan Pathan, a teacher and witness of Naroda Patia massacre was anxious. He said, “Though, it was a peaceful ‘bandh’ in our area, people were a bit edgy. However, there was a strict police bandobast and so the bandh was observed peacefully.”

Kamalesh Shah, an automobile consultant in Naroda, said, “It is the judicial decision so one has to respect it. But Naroda residents believe that Jaideep Patel is innocent and he has been a victim of dirty politics. Today’s peaceful ‘bandh’ reflects the sentiments of Naroda people.”