People of Tanghdar village in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district have called clerics to perform rituals to ward off the ghosts which they believe are behind the sudden fires in the vicinity.
Sudden fires since past several days in Sheikh Mohalla of Khandi area in Tandghar have also left the administration perplexed.
According to reports, fires started all of a sudden in at least four heaps of grass kept by the villagers in open. There have been sudden fires in rooftops of some houses too. Besides, some cowsheds have been completely gutted.
The houses which have suffered partial damage include that of Abdul Gafoor, Abdul Hameed Sheikh, Farooq Ahmad Sheikh, Mohammad Iqbal Sheikh and Khursheed Sheikh, the locals said.
Locals said they invited several clerics for a special ceremonial ritual in the village.
“We have been told that there are numerous ghosts in the village who are behind these fires,” a local said.
“We have conducted an elaborate religious ritual in this regard,” he added.
Faced with the situation, the administration has kept fire tenders in the village to douse off the flames as and when they emerge.
“We are puzzled. Despite putting best efforts, we are not able to figure out how these fires take place,” SDM Mohammad Ilyas told GNS.
