Christian cemetery and Hindu cremation sites established, but Muslims left unaware of the allocation
Team Clarion
MUMBAI — A controversy has erupted in the Maharashtra city of Dombivli as it has come to light that land allocated for a Muslim cemetery 24 years ago remains illegally occupied.
In 2000, the Thane District Collector allocated land in Khambal Para for a Muslim graveyard, a Christian cemetery, and a Hindu cremation ground. While the Christian cemetery and Hindu cremation ground were established, the Muslim graveyard remained undeveloped, and the local Muslim community was not informed of the land allocation.
Despite the passage of over two decades, the land intended for a Muslim graveyard has not been handed over by the city administration.
The Muslim community of Dombivli and surrounding areas was not informed about the land allocation, allowing illegal settlers to occupy the land. The issue came to light when the Sunni Muslim Jamaat Masjid Trust wrote to the municipal corporation requesting acquisition of the cemetery land.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) officials also met with senior municipal officials in this regard.
Officials from the Sunni Muslim Jamaat Masjid Trust have been appealing to the Municipal Corporation for years to acquire the cemetery land but have yet to receive a resolution. “We only recently discovered that cemetery land was allocated in Khambal Para 23 years ago,” said a trust representative. The population of Muslims in Dombivli East, West, Kanchan village, Khambal Para, and surrounding areas is approximately 20,000 to 25,000. Without a local cemetery, bodies are being transported five kilometres to the Kalyan graveyard.
In 2000, the Thane District Collector issued an order, handing over one acre of land in Khambal Para to the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) for the establishment of a Muslim graveyard, a Christian cemetery, and a Hindu cremation ground. The Christian cemetery and Hindu cremation ground were built, but the Muslim cemetery land remained untouched. Locals allege that the Municipal Corporation kept Muslims completely in the dark about this allocation, leading to the illegal construction of residential buildings and shops on the land.
Nasir Khan, Vice President of NCP (Ajit Pawar), accused KDMC of deliberate neglect. “Muslims in Dombivli and its surrounding areas have been demanding a cemetery for 25 years. The Thane District Collector allocated land, but KDMC deliberately did not hand it over to Muslims. Now, illegal settlements have taken over the area,” said Khan. NCP District President Jagannath Shinde also met with Municipal Commissioner Andurani Jhakhar, demanding an immediate measurement of the cemetery land and its hand over to Muslims.
Saleem Sheikh, President of the Sunni Muslim Jamaat Trust, said: “We have appealed to the Municipal Commissioner and the Chief Minister to acquire the cemetery land, but no solution has been found.”
