Tribal man assaulted for refusing to vacate own house in Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD: A 33-year-old man from Ranip on Saturday filed a complaint with the police alleging that two men have been abusing and threatening him, asking him to vacate his house as he belongs to a tribal community. Bharat Dodiyar, a resident of Dwarkadheesh Society in Ranip, said in his FIR with Ranip police that he and his parents have been living in the residential society for 28 years.Three years ago, his parents moved to their native village in Bhiloda taluka of Arvalli. Since then he has been living alone there and runs a wholesale medicines business for a living. Dodiyar said that a man named Raju Desai, a resident of the same society, has been harassing him by uttering caste-based slurs and pressuring him to leave the house.
On March 20, Raju allegedly unloaded a heap of sand in the middle of the society and when Dodiyar objected to it, he allegedly abused and assaulted him. Dodiyar decided not to file any complaint after the other residents advised him to let it go.
On April 30, another resident of the society, Lagdhir Desai, allegedly abused Dodiyar and beat him. Dodiyar said that Lagdhir later sought an apology and he again avoided filing a police complaint.
On Saturday afternoon, Raju allegedly threatened him with dire consequences. This time, however, Dodiyar approached the cops.
Ranip police registered a complaint of causing hurt, using abusive words and criminal intimidation under IPC along with the charges of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against Raju and Lagdhir.