3 graves disturbed in Jagadhari town

CHANDIGARH:

Haryana Police

have initiated probe into digging up of three graves in a Muslim graveyard in

Jagadhri

town of Yamunanagar district. It is believed to be handiwork of some persons indulging in black magic ahead of Diwali. The culprits could not drag out the mortal remains from the graves.

Investigating officer (IO) in the case Om Prakash told TOI that they inspected the spot on Saturday after getting information about the incident, which had taken place on Friday night. Two of the graves were of children, while the third one was of a youth. None of the bodies were disturbed.

On Saturday morning, local residents gathered at the graveyard when they came to know about the incident.

"The manager of the graveyard has suspected role of black magic believers in the incident," said the IO adding that it was first such incident in the graveyard. The police have lodged an FIR in Jagadhri City police station. The unknown accused have been charged of trespassing in the burial place.

Few years back, similar incident had happened in Hisar when body of a child was dragged out from a graveyard. Muslim leaders believe that it was handiwork of a tantrik (black magic practitioner).

Haryana Muslim Kalyan Committee president

Harphool Bhatti

said that such incidents should be taken seriously and needed to be probed in depth.

The committee has also been seeking removal of encroachments from the burial grounds in villages and towns of the state. In view of the problems being faced by the waqf boards to get their land freed from the illegal possessions, the Haryana government had amended the Public Premises Act in the legislative assembly in 2006.

According to Haryana Waqf Board, it has framed a policy in which status of the board's lands dedicated as graveyards have been safeguarded for its use as graveyard in future also. As per the census of 2011, the Muslims constitutes 7% of Haryana's population of about 25 million. Apart from Mewat, the community has significant presence in Yamunanagar, Faridabad and Gurgaon district.

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