Shia community launches protest, demands burial ground in Malvani

Members of the Shia community are sitting on a hunger protest to pursue their demand for a burial ground in or around Malvani. The protest began on Thursday in Malvani, and has no set date of conclusion. The protestors plan to go without food even on Eid day, which is Saturday, to press home their demand.

"We have not decided till when we will continue this hunger protest, because our demand has been pending for a long time now," said Sayed Bakar Raza, joint secretary of the Mumbai suburban Shia Ishna Ashari Jamaat.

Around 15 people from the area have been sitting on the hunger protest along with him. "The closest Shia burial ground is in Kapaswadi (Juhu) and in Mazgaon. Both these places are too far for us to take the dead. The population of our community in this area has increased to 25,000, and hence we feel that it is time we have another burial ground here," added Raza.

The community members stated that they have written letters about the same to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Collector's office, but things have not moved. "A lot of people said that a place will be given to us soon, and that we should not worry, but nothing has really happened," Raza added.