Jaleswar: A woman in Balasore district had to watch over her 26-year-old son’s body for 18 long hours after villagers refused to help with his funeral because her family had been ostracised over witchcraft suspicions. Madan Besra, son of Raju Besra from Deulbar village in Nampo panchayat, collapsed during farm work and was left paralysed about 10 days ago. He died Thursday evening around 6pm, due to his illness. Since then, his mother Champa had remained by the body as no villager came forward to shoulder the bier. Raju said his family has lived in isolation for more than 10 years after his wife was accused of practising witchcraft.
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When his father Meghray Besra died three years ago, villagers had also stayed away from the funeral, which was conducted only after the Biju Yuva Vahini volunteer group came out to help. After Madan’s death, Raju informed the Nampo police outpost and local sarpanch, Lopamudra Raul, but villagers still refused to assist. Residents Bula Marandi and Kalia Marandi claimed they had not been informed about the death or asked to help with the funeral. With the intervention of police, the sarpanch and the social group ‘May I Help You’, the cremation was eventually performed.
