Bihar: Miscreants dig up British-era graves to find gold, diamond in Purnia

PATNA: Graves in a Christian cemetery in Purnia have been dug up by drug addicts and drunkards, looking for possible gold and silver jewellery, where some well-known Britishers were buried in the pre-Independence era.
Land mafias are also eyeing the cemetery, located near the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) headquarters.
The locals have various theories behind the digging of the graves which are over 150 years.Some say miscreants dig up the graves thinking they will get gold and diamonds as wealthy Britshers had been buried there. The miscreants have even dismantled the marble tombstone for money.
N K Srivastava, an assistant professor at N D College in Purnia University, said of the four cemeteries in the town, only one has been left and its protection was necessary.
“Some Britishers had contributed a lot in the development of Purnia. We need to protect their graves so that we can pass the information and heritage of the town to the future generation,” Shrivastava added.
He cited the example of G G Ducarel, the first collector of Purnia after it became a district and Dr David Picchache, the first civil surgeon of Purnia. Shrivastava also recalled another Britisher, Hays, who had made many bungalows, including the ones from where Purnia College and Government Girls’ School are being run today.
Father Jacob, a parish priest of Anglican Church near Girja Chowk in Purnia, said the cemetery was in a very bad condition. “Some idols have also been vandalized at the burial ground. An iron grill erected at the entrance of the cemetery was removed two years back. The iron grill was erected after CM Nitish Kumar had come up with graveyard development scheme,” he added.
Chairman of state Congress’s minority wing, Minnat Rahmani, said a delegation headed by him had lodged a complaint with the police in 2019 in this regard, but no avail.
“It can also be the handiwork of land mafias, who are slowly removing the identity of the graves so that they can have control on them,” said a local, adding they have done the same with other graves in the town.
Agrees Rahmani: “The land is expensive and mafias are trying to finish the identity of the graves so that they can grab the land.”
Purnia SP Daya Shankar said the police have got information in this regard through social media. “Local police officers have been asked to visit the site along with the circle officer to look into the matter,” he told TOI over the phone on Thursday.
A police officer posted at Khazanchi Haat said they had got the information about drug addicts using the graveyard and intensified patrolling in the area. He, however, denied claims that land mafias are dismantling the graves. The police officer said no complaint has so far been made in this regard.
Asked about the other three graveyards in the town, Srivastava said it seems land mafias had grabbed them.