According to residents, villagers were urged during the convention to stop eating, drinking, and conducting any form of business with Muslims, and to rely exclusively on members of the Hindu community for daily needs. Since then, Muslim families say their livelihoods and access to basic services have been severely disrupted.
Among those affected is Asif Hussain, who has reportedly been removed from his job as a school bus driver after villagers objected to his employment. Another resident, Sadiq Hussain, an electrician by profession, said he has been without work for more than a week as households have stopped calling him for repairs. Several families allege that grocery shopkeepers have refused to sell them essential items, while barbers have declined to provide services.
Villagers also claim that the boycott was formally announced through the village kotwar, or crier, who allegedly made public declarations instructing residents to cut off all interaction with Muslim families. These claims have raised concerns about organised social exclusion and the breakdown of communal harmony in the area.
Local resident Khairun Nisha said the situation was unprecedented for the village. “People of all communities lived together peacefully here earlier. We have never seen such an atmosphere before,” she said. She added that fear has spread among women and children, with some children reluctant to attend school due to the tense environment.
Former MLA Kishore Samrite has objected strongly to the alleged boycott, calling it a violation of constitutional rights and fundamental freedoms. He has demanded an inquiry by the Union Home Ministry, police flag marches in Ghoti and Nandora villages, and a judicial probe into the incident. Samrite has also alleged that hate speech was delivered at public places and accused local elected representatives, including the sarpanch and panchayat members, of tacitly supporting the boycott.
He further claimed that law enforcement agencies and intelligence units failed to act despite the seriousness of the allegations. Police officials, however, said the matter was under examination and that statements from villagers were being recorded.
The incident has brought renewed attention to concerns over communal tensions in rural areas and the responsibility of authorities to prevent social exclusion and protect livelihoods, as investigations continue
