City’s lone Hindu Graveyard turns into haven for anti-social elements : Citizens demand construction of footpaths, installation of lights

Sanjith Das
Port Blair, July 28: Due to the indifference the civic body, the lone Hindu Graveyard in the city continues to remain in shambles. Lacking basic amenities like Footpath, Street lights, Watch and Ward Staff etc, the Graveyard at Anarkali has turned into a haven for drug addicts and anti-social elements, who freely use the area for illegal activities.
Though the sentiments of the Hindu community are hurt due to the negligence, the Municipal Council has turned a blind eye to the problem.
According to reports, the land for the Hindu Graveyard was allotted considering demands from the community. However, the Municipal Council, since allotment, neither bothered to construct proper footpaths in the graveyard nor cared to ensure proper illumination. At present the main footpath is in horrible shape and there is no branch footpath.
As a result, drug addicts and anti-social elements take control of the graveyard after dusk. With no fear of police action, the anti-social elements openly booze in the holy place and heaps of alcohol bottles seen all over the graveyard poses a grim picture of the apathy of the civic body.
According to Anarkali residents, activities like boozing, gambling etc in a graveyard in an immoral act. “The condition of the graveyard is deteriorating every day and a huge public uprising is in the making. Drug addicts and gamblers carry on illegal activities without any fear of the law enforcing agencies. The Municipal Council too does not bother to construct footpaths and install street lights in the graveyard. Repeated appeals have fallen on deaf ears. The Police should conduct regular inspections in the graveyard and the Municipal Council should immediate construct footpath and install street lights to upkeep the sanctity of the graveyard. Even a Watch and Ward staff needs to be posted to ensure proper maintenance of the graveyard,” said some Anarkali residents.
The General Secretary of Human Rights Organisation, Mr G Saravana also condemned the illegal activities at the Anarkali Hindu Graveyard. “Activities like alcoholism, gambling etc at a Graveyard is totally unacceptable and the Police should take strict action against the offenders. Besides indiscriminate dumping of garbage in the graveyard should also be checked. Moreover, the concerned agencies of the administration should also fulfil the demand for construction of footpath, street lights and posting a Watchman in the graveyard,” he said.