Team Herald
PANJIM: The Panjim police on Sunday initiated preliminary inquiry into a complaint of alleged burial of an unclaimed body at the 18th Century British cemetery located at Dona Paula.
The Directorate of Archives and Archaeology has filed a complaint with Panjim police claiming that unknown persons had replaced the locks fixed to the gate of the cemetery- marked by gravestones of 42 Britishers and which is a protected State monument.
The complaint was filed following an inspection conducted by the department, after historian Prajal Sakhardande, brought to the notice about the possible burial of an unknown body at the cemetery, which is illegal. During the inspection, the department noticed tempering with the locks.
“The department had put up locks on the entrance gate. During inspection at the site when the locks were tried to open, it was noticed that the department’s locks had been replaced… In this regard, a complaint may be kindly registered to ascertain the facts and for necessary action to be taken at the earliest,” the complaint stated.
Sources at Panjim police informed that a preliminary inquiry has been initiated based on the complaint filed by the department.
According to Sakhardande, the recent burial at the cemetery is first since final rites performed in 1912.
“The act is illegal and amounted to violation of laws which protect legally notified historical monuments. The act is also dangerous,” he said.
