Surat: Police have booked five persons for allegedly cremating the body of a 40-year-old Covid woman instead of burying her.
Those booked include one of the staff members of New Civil Hospital (NCH), an employee of the agency hired for the cremation of bodies at NCH and three family members of the Hindu family who cremated the body mistaking it to be that of their family.
An inquiry has been ordered by the NCH superintendent to find out how the mistake was committed. NCH authorities have also asked doctors to check each body before handing them over to perform last rites. The complaint was lodged by Aqib Ansari (22), a resident of Saiyedpura area, and the accused were booked under various sections for IPC pertaining to negligence.
In the incident, Ansari’s mother Shabana’s body was handed over to the family of Sushila Bagul on Saturday. The Bagul family cremated the body. When the Ansari family reached the hospital to collect the body, they came to know about the blunder. They staged an angry protest at the NCH after which police was called to ensure law and order.
Meanwhile, the Bagul family was also informed that the body they cremated was that of Shabana. Bagul's family had already left the city after cremation to reach their native in Maharashtra but was called back to take custody of the body of Sushila. “We have started registering statements of those named in the complaint and other concerned officials. After the detailed investigation, action will be taken against those responsible for the negligence,” said a police officer at Khatodara police station.
NCH superintendent S M Patel said, “The committee has already started an inquiry and based on the report, actions will be taken. Meanwhile, we have started a new arrangement in which the bodies will be handed over for last rites after a certificate is issued by the doctor on duty.”