Captured by : Police demolish controversial grave at Khanjar Galli in Belagavi.
Police demolish 'grave' at Belagavi
THE GOAN NETWORK
BELAGAVI
The three-month controversy surrounding a grave was finally laid to rest, when the grave at Khanjar Galli in Belagavi was demolished.
The issue was resolved peacefully after a group of Molavis certified the grave to be a fake, giving a green signal for the district administration to immediately remove the encroachment at Khanjar Galli in Belagavi in the wee hours of Wednesday.
The fake grave was removed amid heavy police protection.
Under ‘Mission Secret' the district administration in association with police department initiated the move to resolve the tomb issue while maintaining high secrecy.
Molavis from Vijaypura, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Belagavi and other places were invited to examine the tomb. Since the last three days, district administration in association with police were conducting confidential meetings with the Molavis.
The preparations for the demolition started at about 10.30 pm on Tuesday and was accomplished at about 2 am on Wednesday. Deputy Commissioner N Jayaram, Police Commissioner Ravi S and other senior officials were supervising the entire process amid heavy police protection.
“Na Kabar mili na Mazar,” announced Ulema of Bijapur, who led the group of Molavis, after two hours of digging. This was a green signal for the district administration, which immediately removed the grave.
It may be recalled that the controversy had surfaced after the Hubballi Electricity Supply Company bill collecting centre building was demolished by City Corporation three months ago, after which a few persons belonging to a particular community had claimed that the portion of the doomed place happens to be a grave of a saint.
The issue had created tension several times, generating communal disputes.
