Disease fear forces man to dump daughter’s body in forest; NGO members cremate it

Sonepur: Fear of getting ostracised by villagers forced a man to dump the body of his daughter in a forest in Odisha’s Sonepur district.

However, members of an NGO later recovered the body and cremated it ritualistically.

According to reports, Sanjukta Duari (29), daughter of Rajendra Duari of Badajora village under Tarabha police limits in the district, had developed infection in her mouth. Despite treatment at multiple hospitals, the infection couldn’t get cured.

As the woman breathed her last on February 14, villagers assumed that she was suffering from smallpox. Subsequently, they didn’t turn up for the last rites.

Though the father of the deceased requested his kin to extend help towards the last rites, they didn’t pay any heed.

Surprisingly, the villagers asked him to dump the body outside. Being helpless, her father took the body to a nearby forest located around 3 km away from the village and dumped it there.

On being informed about the unfortunate incident, members of a Balangir-based NGO reached the village with a hearse. Following a discussion with the woman’s father, they went to the spot along with him.

After getting permission from police and local administration, the NGO members recovered the body, carried it in the hearse and cremated it at the Bibhutipada cremation ground in Balangir.

The exemplary act of the NGO members has garnered appreciation from all quarters.