New Delhi, Nov 07: The Peshawar cantonment board in Pakistan, in a move against Hindu minorities, has served a notice on them to vacate about 70 houses occupied by them for over 130 years in the cantonment areas there, media reports said.
The 'Daily Times' quoted a local Hindu leader Ram Lal as saying that the entire land and property was in the name of one Mehar Chand Khanna who had bought it way back in the 19th century.

The newspaper said the notice was issued last week to the residents of Kali Bari to vacate around 70 houses and a Hindu temple built in 1861.
The cantonment board accused the residents of "occupying the area illegally and encroaching on government land", the daily said, adding that "the notice was a threat that force would be used if the inhabitants did not meet the deadline".

It also quoted a Muslim resident of the Hindu-dominated area, Aslam Siraj, as saying "we are worried and do not know where to go if the authorities use force".
The residents, it said, have also approached the Pervez Musharraf regime through Gayan Singh, a minority member of the National Assembly (Parliament).

Bureau Report