Mangaluru: The funeral of a 75-year-old woman, who died of COVID-19, was held amid opposition from local people in Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka, police said on Friday. The final rites of the woman from Kasba village were held at the Hindu Rudrabhoomi at Kaikunje near Bantwal town, about 30 km from here, on Thursday night under strict police protection.
The district administration first shifted the body of the deceased to Bolur burial ground. Before officials could reach the spot, locals gathered in large numbers and showed strict opposition to the burial. Later, they shifted the body to Pachanady burial ground. When local MLA Dr. Y Bharath Shetty came to know about the same, he along with many locals including ladies and children, gathered in front of the burial ground’s gate clearly violating the lockdown norms. On behalf of the people MLA strongly opposed the burial of the body at Pachanady burial ground which falls under his constituency. He took into task the police commissioner and district health authorities for bringing the body to his constituency without his knowledge. Finding no other way, the officials had to take the body back to Wenlock hospital.
Later the evening, a large number of locals living near Shaktinagar, Moodshedde, Padavinangadi, Sajipa, and Kanchinadka burial grounds protested to prevent the burial after rumors that officials planning to cremate the body in any one burial grounds in city limits soon.
People gathered at the burial grounds till late night and failed to maintain social distance as they clearly violated lockdown rules completely.
Eventually, the funeral rites were begun at 1:30 am in Kaikunje despite opposition from local residents there. It was held as per protocol for COVID-19 deaths.
Muneer Katipalla, president of the Karnataka unit of the DYFI, said that the MLA, being a doctor, backed a group of people who were opposing the cremation at Pachchanady on Thursday night. The MLA should have convinced the people and taken the lead in arranging for the cremation. But he did not do it, Mr. Katipalla said adding that Dr. Shetty should apologize.
The MLA has ‘humiliated’ the family of the deceased woman and his action might prompt people in other places to do the same. “It is not the way how an MLA should conduct himself during the time of crisis.” he added.
BJP MLA/Locals flout lockdown norms in Mangaluru, oppose cremation of a Covid-19 victim
