FP News Service
Guna
Rampyari Bai, a tribal woman who succumbed to her injuries in Bhopal’s Hamidia hospital on Friday, was cremated at her native village Dhanoriya crematorium in Guna district under cover of heavy police force on Saturday.
The woman belonging to the Saharia tribe, which has been classified as a particularly vulnerable tribal group, was set ablaze by a group of men over a land dispute on July 2, while she was alone at her agriculture field.
After preliminary treatment, she was referred to the state capital in a grave situation and after battling for life for six-day, she was declared dead on Friday evening at around 5.45 pm. She had received 80 per cent burn injuries.
A large number of people belonging to the Saharia tribe joined her last rite on Saturday as the incident sparked nationwide outrage and people condemned the incident demanding the arrest and stringent punishment for the culprits.
Victim late Rampyari Bai | FPJ
Earlier in the morning, the body was brought to Guna from Bhopal.
A large number of Saharia tribe people who are already started gathering since Friday evening, consoled both of her daughters Lakshmibai and Bharti. After keeping the body for some time, her funeral procession proceeded to the crematorium ground under cover of heavy police protection as there was heavy resentment among the people and the administration did not want to take any chance.
Tribal accusing the administration and local police of ignoring their plight said that the poor here are often targeted by influential people, but their plight is always oppressed by the officials sitting here. From the government to the administration, no help was given to their family.
Meanwhile, district collector Frank Noble A said that the family members of the deceased Rampyari Bai would be given financial assistance of Rs 8.25 lakh. The first installment of Rs four lakh has been sanctioned.
Police had arrested five persons, including two women, in connection with the incident and Section 302 (murder) will be added to the FIR.
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