Tiff over blocking of path to cemetery

With a population of around 1,000, the village is located on the Arni-Vandavasi road where the conflict arises when somebody from the either of the community dies and the bier has to be carried through the fields to the burial ground near the Aavaniapuram hill. However, the pathway that the communities have been using till now is a patta land that belongs to a farmer. The land which has been unused until now, has been taken up by the owner to start cultivating, thus leaving the communities to find a new route to reach the burial ground.

On the condition of anonymity, a local said, “The issue is between two local communities where even if one community is willing to accept another route, the other community refuses to do so and hence the issue has been simmering. Though the farmer was willing to provide locals a path through his patta land, he turned hostile and refused to oblige due to their harsh approach.” said an official.

The complaint raised the villagers is that though the spot was inspected by the Collector KS Kandasamy, no action has been taken. When asked about as to why they can adopt another route, he said, “there is an alternate way which is a little circuitous, but they prefer to go through the field as it has become a tradition to use this route.”

Asked about whether the path is being encroached, the Collector said “there is no encroachment. A decade ago, the land was not tilled and was empty which locals used to reach the burial ground. Now that the owner has cultivated, locals assume it to an encroachment.”

A source from Aavniapuram panchayat said “The government has provided a burial ground with all facilities near the village itself, but locals feel it is a matter of prestige to be buried near the hill.” Though there has been no constant tension, the issue rises only on the event of death in either of the village.