VRISHANK MAHATME
vrishank@herald-goa.com
At a time when Muslim communities are crying to have burial grounds (Kabrastans) across the state, the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) has sparked a major controversy by declaring that bodies of deceased Muslims from outside Panjim will not be allowed for burial at the Kabrastan in St Inez.
In its letter to the Jamat UL Muslamin Gansia Sunni Trust on September 19, the CCP has stated that the Muslim kabrastan at St Inez owned by this Corporation is to bury only the deceased of Panjim, who are residents within CCP limits due to limited space.
However, this decision of the CCP has upset and hurt the Muslim community for which Azad Jamatul Muslimeen Welfare Trust has recently approached the Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC).
Azad Jamatul Muslimeen Welfare Trust, President Sayed Manzoor Kadri speaking to Herald said “Since Liberation, we have been fighting to have kabrastans in Goa. As a result of few Kabrastans in Goa, if any person passes away, we have to take the body for burial to a nearby kabrastan, or in some cases, to their native places outside the State.”
“I agree that the space is limited at the Kabrastan at St Inez but what should we do? Tiswadi currently has only two Kabrastans, at Pilar and St Inez. We have also written to the government for identification of new land until which we pray to the CCP to allow the burial. We have approached the Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) over this matter,” said Kadri.
Further, the committee has also argued why the neighbouring villages of St Cruz and Taleigao are being allowed for burial at the Kabrastan when it does not fall under the jurisdiction of the CCP.
“The CCP order itself states that it cannot take the responsibility of other than corporation of Panjim; then how the Taleigao and Santa-Cruz villages are allowed to bury the dead in the St Inez kabrastan?” the committee has questioned.
Surprisingly, the welfare trust has also questioned what the CCP is doing of the donated land adjacent to the Kabrastan which was given to them by the Bandekar family from Vasco Da Gama.
“I would like to state that few years back the Bandekar family, through the Gousia Majid, had donated thousands of square metres of land which is attached to the said Kabrastan in St Inez. What is the CCP doing of the donated land? It can be easily utilised for the purpose,” said Kadri.
Meanwhile, reacting to this claim, CCP Commissioner Ajit Roy, said “The order issued by the CCP on burial at Kabrastan stands and the corporation has not taken any decision on allotment of the land donated by the Bandekar adjacent to the said Kabrastan to be used for burial”.
Further, the CCP has also issued a public notice banning the use of loudspeakers for prayers at Muslim burial grounds (kabrastan) in the city after corporation had received numerous complaints from locals.
The Commissioner said it had been brought to CCP’s notice that the prayers at the burial ground were carried out through loudspeakers, public address systems with very high decibels.
“The community should ensure that no prayers are held on Muslim burial ground / kabrastan by loud speakers / public address systems so as to avoid disturbing the public peace and tranquility in the surrounding area,” the notice reads.
