Daman Cemetery Land Grab Sparks Fury Amid Rs.500 Cr Project Push

Daman, Unioni Territory –  A storm is brewing in the coastal Union Territory of Daman, where six Muslim communities have been served show cause notices by the district administration over a piece of land historically used as a cemetery. The move, allegedly linked to a mega ₹500 crore convention center project, has triggered massive outrage among locals and community leaders.

The land, located near Devka Beach under Survey Number 6/1, has been a sacred burial site for Muslims since the Portuguese colonial era. Yet, according to official records, the Daman Collector Saurabh Mishra now claims the land is government-owned, and its previous allocation to the Muslim communities was “wrongful.”

The show cause notice, issued earlier this week, demands documentary proof by July 25, failing which eviction proceedings will be initiated. This action comes under the ambit of the “New Daman, New India” urban development initiative.

“They are trying to erase our community’s history under the pretext of development,” said Irfan Shaikh, a local representative. “This land has been a cemetery for generations. What more proof do they need?”

MP Umesh Patel Slams Administration

Strongly criticizing the move, Member of Parliament Umesh Patel alleged that the administration’s real motive is to seize the strategically located land for private gain under the cover of a government project.

“This is not about legality—it’s about greed. The ₹500 crore luxury convention center planned nearby is the real reason behind this sudden action,” Patel told reporters.

“First, they take away public spaces. Then they hand them over to private cronies. The cemetery and even cremation lands are now under threat.”

Patel directly blamed Administrator Praful Patel, accusing him of converting community-used land into private holdings without public consent. He warned that this pattern of “quiet land acquisition” poses a direct threat to both religious freedoms and land rights in the Union Territory.

Fear and Anger Among Residents

Locals have expressed deep concern that the land dispute is not limited to the Muslim community. The same land is reportedly also used by Hindus for cremation, making this a shared religious site.

“This is not just about a community; it’s about our collective heritage,” said Ramesh Solanki, a Hindu resident of Nani Daman. “We won’t let them bulldoze our traditions for profit.”

The district administration has so far remained tight-lipped, but sources suggest that the land’s proximity to the upcoming convention center is a key factor in its sudden reclamation.

A Bigger Battle Looms

With community tensions rising and legal battles on the horizon, this dispute is shaping up to be more than a local land issue. It is becoming a flashpoint for debates on urban development, minority rights, and administrative transparency.

MP Umesh Patel has vowed to raise the matter in Parliament, warning that Daman’s residents will not remain silent as their sacred spaces are threatened in the name of luxury and development.