Koksara: In a shocking incident, family members dragged the body of an elderly woman on a cot for cremation after community members refused to attend the last rituals at Tentulipada under this block in Kalahandi district Wednesday.
The reason for this discrimination was that the woman had married a man of another caste.
Sabitri Juaid, the widow of Baidyanath Juaid, died late Tuesday night. Her family members desperately sought the help of the community members for cremation of the body. But none came forward expressing their anger over her inter-caste marriage.
Left with no option, Sabitri’s brother-in-law Raghunath Juaid, her sister-in-law and son-in-law Chandra Hans placed the body on a cot and started dragging it to the cremation ground.
The incident triggered shockwaves in the area. Some villagers noticed the duo dragging the cot and informed the collector over phone.
Collector Brunda D directed the Koksara BDO to visit the spot and help the bereaved family in cremating the body. Later, the body was carried in a sling with the help of villagers to the cremation ground where her last rites were performed.
The BDO took stock of the situation and gave away `2,000 under Harishchandra Yojana to the bereaved family. Later, a BJP team visited the village and met the bereaved family.
Sources said Baidyanath, who hailed from goud (milkman) caste, came in contact with Sabitri while working as a migrant labourer in Bhawanipatna. He accepted Sabitri, who belonged to Sabar caste, as his second wife.
He brought her home but his community members refused to accept her as member due to their irreconcilable difference over her caste. Baidyanath tried his best to appease the community leaders, but in vain. He died six months ago leaving Sabitri alone at home. PNN