Minority panel for no encroachment on burial grounds

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 22

Yakoob Masih, chairman of the Punjab State Minority Commission, has issued instructions for removal of encroachments from the burial grounds. He chaired a meeting of officials from various departments to discuss the issues concerning minorities.

Masih said the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) had issued instructions to set up a burial ground on two acres of land at Bharariwal village but nothing has been done. He instructed the administration to provide land for the burial ground at the village so that court orders are adhered to.

He also took notice of the encroachment on the burial ground at Ekta Nagar. “Efforts are also being made to get a burial ground at Mahal village. The Christian community has a strong presence in various areas of the district but as burial grounds are not available, they face trouble in burying their dead,” he said. The representatives of the community have raised the issue on various occasions, he said.

Masih also asked the Local Bodies Department to get signage displayed outside Churches as done in case of other religious places in the city. He also asked the officials to submit the action taken report on all issues discussed in the meeting within a month. He said that government had been running a number of schemes for minorities.