No Graveyard, Kin Keep Body in Open for Three Days

The decaying body of Raju was finally buried on revenue land at 4 pm on Monday

SHIMOGA: The lack of a graveyard and a facility to cremate bodies in the village forced a family in Virupinakoppa to keep a relative’s body in the open for three days.

The decaying body of Raju, who died of an illness on Saturday, was finally buried on revenue land at survey number 41 at 4 pm on Monday after the revenue inspector visited Virupinakoppa village.

Virupinakoppa, just 8 km from the city, was once forest land but people began settling here a century ago.

Despite this, villagers without land of their own, like Raju’s family, have been forced to bury or cremate bodies in others’ plots.

Earlier, the villagers laid bodies to rest in the forest area but due to encroachments over the years, the forest area has been converted into sites.

Gram Panchayat member Chidambar said the GP had resolved to reserve 1.3 acres in the village for a graveyard and sent the resolution to the Deputy Commissioner but there has been no action.

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The New Indian Express
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