A fresh controversy erupted in the Gaujani locality of Ramnagar, Nainital district, on May 29, as members of the Muslim community faced obstruction while attempting to bury a deceased relative on land reportedly associated with the Waqf Board. BJP workers and local Hindu residents objected, alleging the burial site fell outside the officially designated Muslim graveyard boundaries.
BJP leader Madan Joshi claimed that the burial was being conducted nearly 200 meters beyond the marked cemetery area, calling it an unlawful act and a violation of prior community agreements. “The land where the burial was taking place does not fall under the recognised graveyard,” Joshi told ETV Bharat, blaming the Waqf Board for aggravating the situation.
As tensions escalated, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Pramod Kumar intervened with heavy police deployment to avert communal unrest. “The administration has clearly stated that no burial or construction will be permitted without proper legal documentation,” he said. Police maintained order while attempting to mediate between the two sides.
In a show of protest, a group of young Muslim men staged a sit-in inside the half-dug grave, refusing to vacate the site until the burial was allowed. Police later removed the protestors, and under administrative orders, the grave was filled in. The family was asked to carry out the burial at the approved cemetery.
According to reports from Dainik Jagran, the land dispute dates back to 1994. An earlier mutual agreement between both communities limited burials to the marked graveyard. Joshi alleged that the Waqf Board was exploiting the absence of legal heirs to a Hindu family that once owned the disputed land.
In view of the sensitive situation, authorities have deployed local police and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) to maintain peace. Meanwhile, the revenue department has been tasked with reviewing land records to clarify the official boundaries of the cemetery.
The incident underscores the fragility of inter-community relations and highlights the urgent need for clear land demarcation and transparency in handling Waqf-related matters to prevent future conflicts.
