PONDA: A police complaint has been lodged to investigate the burial of an unidentified body at the Kabrastan in Curti. Following reports from local residents, Curt-Khandepar Sarpanch Abijeet Gaude submitted the complaint to the Ponda Police.
In his statement, he indicated that an unknown body had been interred at the Kabrastan in Deep Nagar, Curti without proper identification or adherence to legal protocols.
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on November 1, between 4:00 and 4:30 PM. The Sarpanch has requested the Police Inspector of Ponda to look into the circumstances surrounding the burial and to identify the deceased.
He emphasized the need for the police to address this matter with urgency to uphold the law.
Crematorium land has once again become a subject of controversy: Acquired approximately 17 years ago for the purpose of conducting final rites for individuals from Hindu, Muslim, Catholic, and other communities, the land designated for various groups has yet to be properly demarcated in accordance with local demands. Following allegations from residents regarding the illegal burial of a body, the Sarpanch has also filed a complaint with the police, reigniting the controversy surrounding the Crematorium land. This is not the first instance of such claims; several years ago, members of the gramsabha alleged that multiple bodies had been buried without proper documentation, generating revenue for the Panchayat.
In response to these allegations, the Panchayat had previously installed a gate at the crematorium to prevent unauthorized final rites. However, the absence of a lock on the gate, which remains open 24 hours a day, has allowed some migrants to freely access the crematorium road to reach their locality and park vehicles on the crematorium land.
Recently, locals held a press briefing where social worker Sandeep Parkar highlighted illegal structures and encroachments on the crematorium land by migrants. During the last Sunday’s Gramsabha meeting, there was a call for legal action against these encroachments.
Sandeep Parkar further alleged that, to date, over 600 bodies have been buried, yet only 65 of these have been officially registered with the Panchayat. He stressed the necessity for identity and accountability regarding the number of bodies interred. He expressed support for the Panchayat’s efforts in this matter.