Where decorum gets a quiet burial

According to Rashmikant David, a nephew of Samuel, after the coffin was removed, they approached the local police and civil authorities, but none helped. Therefore, the family decided to bury Samuel in the Hindu burial ground, with Vankars sanction.

Kheda district Collector Bhagyesh Jha said he had received a complaint, and would soon order an inquiry.

A police complaint lodged by DayabhaiParmar, manager of the Christian Burial Committee, names local corporator Ghyanshyam Patel, Kapadwanj VHP president Arun Suthar, and Hasmukh Patel, chairman of a local co-operative bank, as culprits. Interestingly, however, the police case makes no mention of the digging up of a coffin; it only says that Parmar’s bag and purse were snatched.

While Patel denied any involvement, Suthar admitted that he dug out the body with the help of BJP corporators and the residents because “no one can bury a body in an area where people have been living for over four decades”.But Parmar claimed it was a Christian burial ground since 1951 and many bodies had been buried. Local Mamlatdar V R Pandya said the land was earmarked for a burial ground, but Christians were yet to prove their claim.

Over the years, the Lashiniya Vagharis, a sub-caste of Vagharis, have encroached and built huts on the land. The police also say that the Vagharis had been living at the disputed site for over five decades. Raju Vaghri, one of theresidents, said this was the first time a body had been brought there for burial.

Last year, Christians had buried “a coffin” to stake their claim, Raju alleged. The Vagharis dug it out and found it contained stones. This time, the coffin contained a body and the Vagharis knew it, but “we removed it with the help of local BJP leaders”, Raju admitted, and complained, “They want to make us homeless.”

The Vagharis allege that the Christian graveyard had been converted into a residential area to raise funds for the construction of the church. However, Parmar claims this was done after completing all formalities. He also questioned the Vagharis claim that they had been living there for 50 years, saying they moved in only in 1994.

According to Parmar, since the area had a small Christian community, burials took place after long intervals. The last burial was in 1996. It was held “under tight security” because there was protests, but no one removed the body. This time, BJP-HVP men dug out Samuel’scoffin, he said, and alleged that the police turned a blind eye. However, Suthar claimed that the body was dug out with the consent of Samuel’s family. “Even the police was present,” he said. Suthar also claimed that Samuel’s widow went out to bring a lorry for transferring the body to another place for burial, but “the other group” did not allow her. Therefore, BJP-VHP men placed the body near the church.

Suthar said Christians living in nearby areas refused to allow burial in their area. He also said that last year, a body was taken to Nadiad for burial because the Christian burial ground was “illegally occupied by Parmar and his group”. Interestingly, amidst the war of claims and counter-claims, Samuel’s family is keeping silent.