1 hour ago
3
ARTICLE AD BOX
Burial rights have been a simmering issue in Bastar in recent years.
A dispute over a burial led to mob violence and vandalism that left several people — both policemen and civilians — injured in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, once again bringing to the fore Bastar’s long-simmering tensions over burial rights.
Tensions began on December 16 when Rajman Salam, the sarpanch of Badetevda village in Amabeda tehsil of Kanker district in the Bastar region, sought to bury his 70-year-old father’s body on his private property. While Salam, a Christian convert, wanted his non-convert father to be given a Christian burial, village residents objected.
“I said I would like to participate in the burial. But my political rival began opposing this, saying they would not allow me to participate in the ceremony,” he claimed.
Salam then gave his father a Christian burial, further fuelling public anger.
“After this, my rival gathered right-wing workers from other villages, demanded that the body be exhumed and launched a major protest. They instigated men and women from other villages and brought them here. The police also asked me to give permission to exhume the body to avoid escalation, but I refused,” he said.
This led to clashes on December 16 and 17, with police eventually cordoning off the entire area. On December 18, tensions escalated when a mob armed with sticks breached the police cordon to enter Badetevda, leading to another clash.
In a press note, Kanker police said, “Based on the villagers’ complaint, the Executive Magistrate has issued an order for exhumation in accordance with legal provisions. A Panchnama (inquest report) and post-mortem will be conducted, followed by necessary legal proceedings. The issue led to a tense standoff in the village. Groups of villagers confronted each other, resulting in stone-pelting.”
Story continues below this ad
Soon after, an enraged mob vandalised a prayer hall, one eyewitness said. Twenty policemen, including Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Antagarh Ashish Banchhor, were injured in the incident, with officials saying the situation is now under control.
Burial rights have been a simmering issue in Bastar in recent years. In January, the son of a Bastar pastor approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to give his father a Christian burial either in the village burial ground or on his private property.
The plea was denied, but the court directed state authorities to demarcate exclusive sites as graveyards for the burial of Christians across the state. The body was eventually buried in a Christian graveyard around 25 kilometres away from his home.
Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
English (US) ·