BOUDH : AN old widow, who was deserted by her son for not bequeathing her property of four decimals of homestead land, was carried by her grandson on shoulder for cremation two days after her death. The incident took place in Baghiapada village under Boudh block, 18 km from the district headquarters, on Friday.
The elderly lady, identified as Mer Sahu (85), died on Wednesday. As none of her relatives and villagers turned up for the last rites, grandson Swadhin Sahu, son of her mentally challenged daughter, carried her body on his shoulder and cremated her in the village crematorium.
Sources said Mer had willed her property in the name of Swadhin as he was taking care of her, working as a daily wager. On Wednesday, Mer died of geriatric-related disease and with her son deserting her, none among the villagers came forward to help Swadhin cremate the body.
And with the dead body lying in the house for two days and no one willing to help, Swadhin picked up the body on his shoulder and carried it to the village cremation ground even as villagers stood as mere onlookers.
They even declined to extend a helping hand as Swadhin arranged for wood on his own with great difficulty for his grandmother's last rites. Later, local Sarpanch Sairendri Mahakul and her husband reached out to Swadhin and offered him `2,000 under Harishchandra Yojana.