Vaniyappara cemetery mystery cleared: Inspection confirms only two sets of human remains inside grave

KANNUR: The mystery surrounding a grave at the Infant Jesus Church cemetery in Vaniyappara, Iritty, has been cleared after a detailed inspection by revenue officials, police, and forensic experts. The team opened the grave on Wednesday and confirmed that only two sets of human remains were present inside.

Authorities said a detailed scientific examination will be carried out. They confirmed that the remains inside the grave belonged only to the bodies buried in 2006 and 2015, as mentioned in the official records of the church. The grave opened was number 38 at the Infant Jesus Church cemetery in Vaniyappara under Ayyankunnu panchayat. It was opened to verify the identity of an object that looked like a human body and was found wrapped in a plastic mat inside the grave. However, reports suggest that no body was found inside the plastic mat.

The issue came to light on June 13 when the grave was opened to bury another body. At that time, an object resembling a body wrapped in a plastic mat was found near a coffin. The discovery raised concerns as the grave was believed to contain only the remains of Rosamma, who died in 2006, and Jason Kumbookkal, who died in 2015. The church authorities later informed the police about the matter.

According to Christian burial customs, bodies are not usually buried wrapped in plastic mats. Relatives of Jason Kumbookkal informed the parish priest that Jason had been buried in a coffin in 2015 and that the grave had been cleaned with sawdust and sand before a white cloth was placed inside. They also said that there was no third object inside the grave at the time of Jason’s burial, which added to the mystery surrounding the discovery.