Shocking: Bulldozer digs graveyard in Baramulla at midnight, driver detained

July 8, 2025 by News Desk

In an incident that has sparked outrage and disbelief, a JCB machine was used to carry out unauthorized excavation inside a graveyard in Shiapora village, Delina, late Monday night, a move that has deeply hurt local sentiments and raised serious questions about respect for the dead.

The shocking act took place around 11:50 PM on July 7, when residents noticed heavy machinery digging within the graveyard, a sacred space meant to be untouched. Community members immediately raised the alarm, forcing the JCB driver to flee the scene.

Baramulla Police arrived promptly, with senior officers including DySP Headquarters and SHO Baramulla overseeing the response.

The JCB was seized, and the site was secured. A case (FIR No. 124/2025) was registered, and the contractor behind the disgraceful act was arrested on the spot.

After nearly 24 hours on the run, the absconding JCB driver was arrested Tuesday morning.

Police say further investigation is underway to identify all those responsible for this grave violation of ethics, faith, and law.

What has shocked many is not just the unauthorized nature of the excavation, but the sheer brazenness of carrying it out in the dead of night, with no regard for religious sanctity or communal sensitivity.

This incident has left a stain on the conscience of local governance and public responsibility. Community leaders and locals have expressed anguish over the violation of a space considered sacred across all communities.