Karnataka: Local residents oppose burial of Covid-19 victim

MANGALURU: Dakshina Kannada district witnessed another incident showing lack of dignity in death for a Covid-19 victim on Sunday.
The dead body of a 31-year-old Covid-19 victim from Idya in Surathkal was sent back from a burial ground in Bolar after local residents opposed the burial. Tension prevailed after people in large numbers arrived near the burial ground of a masjid in Bolar, where arrangements were made to bury the dead as per the government protocol.
Following objections from people, the masjid committee decided to shift the body and conduct the burial at Surathkal, near the native place of victim. Accordingly, the ambulance carrying the dead body left Bolar.
C Madan Mohan, assistant commissioner, Mangaluru, told TOI that the issue was solved by convincing local residents, who were opposing the burial of the dead body. “We convinced the local residents and they agreed to bury the dead in Bolar itself,” he said.
Following the intervention of officials, the ambulance, which was on its way towards Surathkal, was brought back to Bolar. In fact, the masjid committee had already dug a grave for the body. However, they were made to dig another pit in the middle of the burial ground based on the suggestions of local residents.
Bolar Masjid secretary Mohammed Ismail said, since the burial grounds in Surathkal and Bunder there were flooded due to rain, the district administration sought our help to bury the body in our masjid premises in Bolar. “Our community leaders agreed to bury the body and made all arrangements. However, local residents raised objections due to fear that the disease may spread. Hence, to avoid a conflict, we decided to shift the body,” he said. However, he added that the timely intervention of officials helped in solving the issue and the body has been brought back to Bolar itself.
Earlier, in April last week, the funeral of a 75-year-old woman, who died of Covid-19 was held amid opposition from local people. The body of a woman from Kasba village in Bantwal was cremated at the Hindu Rudrabhoomi at Kaikunje in the taluk after people residing near a crematorium in Pachanady in the city opposed.