Communal tension erupts in Aligarh over burial in shared ground

Aligarh: Tension started simmering in Salempur village of Aligarh on Friday morning after Hindus objected the burial of a 75-year-old Muslim man at a local crematorium.

The land was used by both Hindus and Muslims for past several years but Hindus started objecting after the status of the land was made public last year.

On Thursday, Mohd Anees, nephew of Mohd Shamsuddin, who passed away, was quoted by TOI saying, "Trouble had erupted last year when a family from the other community cremated a body on what was considered burial ground. The police was called, and the matter was settled after it was revealed that part of the area was to be used as a crematorium."

Pankaj Verma, sub-divisional magistrate, Koil, said, "Both communities had been using the ground for last rites of their dead for several years. After the status of the land was made public last year, it was decided that 1 bigha from the 6 bighas in total was demarcated as burial ground. This area would be sufficient for the minority community as their numbers are very low in the village."