Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Sep 5: SDPI and PFI activists performed the last rites of a poor Hindu woman as per Hindu religious customs late night on Saturday last, as members of Hindu community did not volunteer to do it.

Susheelamma (65) from Siddakatte in the taluk had breathed her last. Although she has left behind two sons and two daughters, all of them are living in abject poverty.

Susheelamma, who used to live in a house at Kuchigudde, Addoor, was sick since sometime. After she underwent treatment at Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru, her health condition had improved and therefore, her sons had taken her to her residence on Saturday. She however fell sick again the same evening and died. The woman's family members reportedly informed local Hindus and relatives of Susheelamma about the woman's demise and sought their help to perform last rites.

Susheelamma had got one of her daughters married to a youth belonging to another religion. Therefore, it is gathered, neither her community members nor relatives came forward to extend help in performing the last rites. Therefore, the mortal remains were kept waiting till 9 pm in the house.

SDPI and PFI activists, who got the information, contacted some Hindu leaders requesting for help. As none of them came forward, it is said, the activists took the body by ambulance to Badakabail crematorium. They bought items worth Rs 6,000 for cremation and performed the final rites at 12.55 am the same night.

SDPI zonal president, A K Mustafa, PFI zonal president, Ashraf Nadugudde, zonal committee president, Zainuddin Pandel, Hakim Pandel, Jabbar Kuchigudde, Anwar Golipadpu, Nazeer Kelaginamane, Shafique Gudde, Sattar, Sauraz Imran and others joined hands in the above act.

This noble deed has come in for lavish praise, and many people hailed it is as an excellent example of communal harmony.