Fear of skeleton theft: Family guards grave of teenager who died in lightning strike in Munshiganj
Photo Collected
His family is guarding the grave of teenager Arafat Khan who died due to lightning in Tongibari upazila of Munshiganj. The grave has been guarded by his father himself and hired men since the burial due to fear of the skeleton being stolen.
Meanwhile, in this situation, the upazila administration has appointed the village police, so that the body can be buried safely and respectfully.
বিজ্ঞাপন
Deceased Arafat (17) is the son of Jasim Khan of Hayarpar area of Dighirpar union of the upazila. It rained with thunder in the area last Thursday afternoon. On that day, Arafat was killed by lightning while bringing grass from the field for the cows. He is buried at the Kamarkhara Social Cemetery in the neighboring Kamarkhara Union.
No one was seen guarding the grave after going to the Kamarkhara cemetery on Wednesday evening. However, it was found that on Tuesday night Arafat’s father Jasim Khan came to guard the grave. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Kamarkhara Union Parishad Chairman visited the cemetery on Wednesday afternoon. At that time, they assigned the responsibility of four village policemen to bury the dead body safely and respectfully.
বিজ্ঞাপন
According to local residents, there has long been a belief in the village that the body parts of people killed by lightning are used in various ways and can be sold at high prices. For this reason, a gang steals such a body from the cemetery. After the burial, the family members would take turns to visit the grave and keep vigil till late at night.
Monir Sheikh (53), a resident of the cemetery, said, “I was going to fish last Sunday around 3:30 pm. Then I saw four or five young men sitting on the street of Gorstan. After asking, I found out that Jasim Khan hired them to guard Arafat’s grave.
Arafat’s house in the secluded Chitakhola-adjacent area of Hayarpar area of Charanchal. On going there on Wednesday night, it was seen that his relatives were sitting in a dilapidated house without electricity. Arafat’s father Jasim Khan and mother Sonia Begum were with them. Arafat is the third child among three brothers and two sisters. Arafat’s father Jasim Khan said, “My son was a small person, but he took the responsibility of the family on his shoulders. He managed the family somehow with tailor work and a cow. That boy was taken away by lightning. I will not get my son again. I have no peace since the burial. I have heard cases of dead bodies being stolen by lightning in various places. I guarded the grave every night until Tuesday, fearing that my son’s body should be stolen. We will guard during the day too.
Arafat’s mother Sonia Begum said, ‘Arafat’s father is sick, he cannot keep watch all the time. God has taken the son, now if the body is also stolen, then how to convince the mind? So I borrowed money from people and hired laborers to guard the graves. I heard that the administration has now arranged security.
The incident of guarding the child’s grave due to the fear of body theft has created a sensation in the area. When the matter spread on social media, it came to the attention of the upazila administration. Later, UNO visited the Tahmina Akhtar cemetery on Wednesday to review the situation.
UNO said necessary measures have been taken to prevent theft of dead bodies. Through the local union council, arrangements have been made to guard the cemetery with four village policemen from Wednesday night. Two will keep watch every night for the next week. After that discussion with the cemetery committee will determine the next course of action. There are also plans to bring the graveyard under CCTV cameras.
Source: Prothom Alo Bangla
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