Andhra family keeps body of woman for 3 days hoping God will bring her back to life: Police

The mother and the brother of a woman who had died spent three days with her body in their apartment, hoping that God will revive her, police said on Monday.

The incident came to light in Jangareddygudem town in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh on Monday. Police suspect that both mother and brother of the deceased are mentally unstable.

According to police, T Aruna Jyoti, 41, died under suspicious circumstances in the apartment complex and her mother and brother kept the body in the flat, hoping that she will come back to life.

Other residents of the apartment building complained to police after foul smell emanated from their flat.

Aruna’s 70-year-old mother Manjula Devi and brother T Ravichandra, 39, were continuing with their daily routine.

A police official revealed that when the police team entered their flat, Ravichandra was having lunch sitting beside the body. He told police that his sister is sleeping. When police tried to explain that the woman had died, her mother and brother said if God has taken her life, he will revive her.

Police forcibly shifted the body to the government hospital for autopsy. They also arranged for the last rites of the deceased.

Police suspect that the woman died three days ago. They, however, were waiting for the forensic report to determine the cause and time of death.

The family had shifted to Jangareddygudem from some other place in the district and taken the flat on rent. The family was facing financial problems due to property disputes.

Ravichandra had left his job in Chennai to join his mother and sister.

According to the other inmates in the apartment building, the family used to remain aloof. They had not paid rent and electricity bills for last five months.

Police were investigating if Aruna committed suicide due to financial problems or died of hunger or any disease.