Graveyard Land Dispute Sparks Midnight Protest in Baramulla, JCB Driver Arrested

SRINAGAR: Tension flared late Monday night in the Delina area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district after locals staged a protest over alleged land-excavation activity near an unused graveyard. The incident, which occurred around midnight, led to the arrest of a JCB driver and the registration of a police case.

According to officials at the Delina police station, a local man operating a JCB machine was found digging soil adjacent to an old graveyard in Shiapora village, when some residents noticed the activity and raised an alarm. The gathering crowd soon turned into a protest, prompting a police response.

“There is a graveyard, and next to it a person was using a JCB machine to excavate the soil. People gathered and protested for a while. We reached the spot and later, police from Baramulla also arrived,” said Muhammad Rafiq, a local police official from the Delina station, during a telephonic conversation.

An FIR has been filed in connection with the incident. “The JCB driver was from Boniyar and he was arrested,” confirmed Rafiq.

The police clarified that the section of land in question was not part of the active graveyard. “It was not in use. The upper part was empty. There were no graves there,” Rafiq said, indicating the disturbance may have stemmed from confusion or concern over future encroachment.

When asked whether this was an isolated case, Rafiq responded, “Yes, it was the first time.”

The motive behind the land-leveling activity remains unclear, and authorities have not yet confirmed whether the individual had authorisation to carry out the work. The incident has triggered concern among locals about the protection of graveyard lands and public sensitivity surrounding religious and burial sites.

Further investigation is underway.