Dozens of Graves Found Vandalised in Batu, East Java — Cemetery Caretaker Revealed as Culprit
Residents of Sumber Sari hamlet, Giripurno Village, Batu City, East Java, were shocked to discover dozens of graves in disarray at the local public cemetery. The incident sparked outrage among residents, particularly the heirs of those buried there.
The incident went viral after amateur video footage circulated on social media on Monday (23/2/2026). The video showed a number of graves found in a disordered state.
According to information gathered, the incident was first noticed by residents on Sunday afternoon (22/2). Locals observed that headstones had been moved from their original positions.
One of the heirs, identified as Udin, confirmed the incident. He said his parents’ grave had been disturbed and the headstone relocated without permission.
“It’s true, one of the damaged graves belongs to my father,” Udin explained.
He expressed deep regret over the unauthorised actions taken upon his parents’ resting place. Udin said the matter had been followed up by the local hamlet officials.
Perpetrator Identified
The individual responsible for causing the disarray at dozens of graves and forcibly moving headstones at the Sumber Sari public cemetery in Giripurno Village, Batu City, has been identified. The perpetrator was none other than the cemetery’s own caretaker, a man named Nanto.
“The person who moved the headstones and made a mess of the graves was Mr Nanto, the cemetery caretaker. He moved the headstones with the help of several other people,” said Sumber Sari hamlet head Istiyah on Monday (23/2).
Istiyah admitted she was initially startled upon receiving reports from residents on Sunday (22/2) that a number of graves had been vandalised. Upon inspection, approximately 20 graves were found in disarray with their headstones relocated.
“I was shocked because there had been no notification or community consultation whatsoever regarding the moving of headstones. Mr Nanto simply moved the grave markers without any permission,” she said.