Shame: Funeral procession wades through pond as route to cremation ground blocked

Senior correspondent

NewsBits.in

JABALPUR: In a shocking incident, a funeral procession had to pass through a pond to reach the cremation ground in Madhya Pradesh, after the mourners were not allowed to take the route that goes to the local cremation ground.

The body was carried by local residents, who waded through the water, to reach the cremation ground, where the last rites were performed. The reason was that the road near the pond has been encroached by the local strongman, who didn't allow funeral to pass through the path.

The incident occurred in Birha village in Pananagar in Jabalpur district. Local residents say that the cremation ground is on government land but the route is now encorached by Nalin Sharma, an influential person in the settlement. They allege that in case of death, the body is taken through the pond.

During the monsoon season, it becomes to go the cremation ground. There was proposal to lay down road afresh but as soon as work began, the truck driver was sent back by Sharma, who claimed that it was his land. Later, when complaint was made to officials, initially, order to start work was given but later a stay order was given.

After the incident, a section of officials initially said that the funeral procession was taken through the route to grab attention. They said that there was another route to the cremation ground too. But the local villagers said that the officials had not even bothered to visit the spot to have a first-hand experience of the situation.

The villagers said that even on the cremation ground, paddy was sown, as the local strongman has encroached the area. Later, last rites were conducted on private land. Earlier too a man was forced to perform his wife's last rites in front of his house in Morena after funeral was not allowed in the cremation ground.

Local MLA Sushil Tiwari Indu has said that it was an unfortunate incident and action would be taken. District Collector Mahesh Chaudhary told journalists that due to rain, the villagers had to pass through the pond filled with water, to perform last rites. He said that officials have been directed to lay down road and resolve the issue.