Kuala Lumpur, May 7 (IANS) Tamil Hindus of Tupah Estate, about 10 km from Bidor in Perak state, held a peaceful demonstration after their cremation ground was illegally converted into agricultural land, Malaysia Nanban newspaper has reported. Estate resident M. Marimuthu, 54, claimed that the Indian community in the area had been using the ground for the past 90 years.

He said “some irresponsible people” had taken control of the land and claimed ownership.

Another resident, S. Siva, 40, said the issue was repeatedly brought to the attention of the former state government, but no action was taken, The Star newspaper reported Wednesday.

He added that the matter had now been brought to the attention of state assemblyman Hamdan Talib, who has instructed his Indian representative A. Loganathan to look into it.