At the Jabdapara Muktidham in the Sarkanda area of Bilaspur, human bones and skulls have started surfacing from the ground because unidentified bodies are being buried in pits barely two feet deep. Heavy rain washed away the loose soil covering several graves, exposing the remains inside, and stray dogs were seen dragging and gnawing at them. The stench spreading across the site and the sight of exposed remains have left nearby residents frightened and angry.
Why bones are surfacing at the burial ground
Residents living around the facility say bone fragments, skulls and torn pieces of clothing that once wrapped bodies are scattered in several spots across the premises. They say this has not been a one off problem but a long running one for which no lasting fix has ever been put in place. People complain that no staff member is posted at the site for day to day monitoring, leaving the burial ground essentially unwatched.
Around a dozen unidentified bodies buried every month
According to available information, roughly 10 to 12 unidentified bodies are buried here every month under police supervision. The local reasoning given is that since a body's identity could still be established later, it is deliberately buried at a shallow depth. But that same practice turns dangerous during the monsoon, because once the covering soil washes away, the top of the grave opens up and stray animals get a clear path to the remains inside.
Once isolated, now surrounded by a dense neighbourhood
The Muktidham used to sit well outside the city, but a dense residential neighbourhood has since grown up around it. Despite that shift, security at the site and the burial method used have not been upgraded to match. Locals allege that the main gate is frequently left open, letting stray animals wander in without any obstruction. On top of that, graves are often not dug deep enough to begin with, so the problem only gets worse once the rains arrive. Residents say the constant stench across the premises has made daily life difficult for people living nearby, and they view this as more than a maintenance lapse, calling it a serious public health and human dignity issue.
Residents demand tighter security and a dignified burial process
Angry residents have asked the district administration and the municipal corporation to strengthen security and fencing at the Muktidham, adopt a fixed, standard method for digging graves, and keep the premises under continuous watch. They argue that every person, identified or not, deserves a dignified farewell and a burial that keeps their remains safely in the ground after death. For now, the episode has raised serious questions about how the burial ground is run and about accountability among the officials responsible for it.
