Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Apr 24: Confusion and anxiety was all over the place late evening on Thursday, April 23, as the district administration could not cremate the mortal remains of the second victim of coronavirus in the district due to strict opposition from locals.

It may be recalled, Dakshina Kannada on Thursday, recorded its second death due to novel coronavirus. The deceased was a 75-year-old woman from Bantwal. She was the mother-in-law of the coronavirus patient from Bantwal who passed away earlier on April 19.

Large number of local in most parts of the city demanded that the body be cremated somewhere else, as the deceased died of coronavirus infection. They remained resolute in their stand, even after police intervention.

The district administration first shifted the body of the deceased to Bolur burial ground. Before officials could reach the spot, locals gathered in large numbers and showed strict opposition to the burial. Later, the district administration planned to cremate the body at Pachanady burial ground. When local MLA Dr Y Bharath Shetty came to know about the same, he along with many locals including ladies and children, gathered in front of burial ground’s gate. On behalf of the locals, the MLA strongly opposed the burial of the body at Pachanady burial ground which falls under his constituency. He took into task the police commissioner and district health authorities for bringing the body to his constituency without his knowledge. Finding no other way, the officials had to take the body back to Wenlock hospital.

Soon after, rumours were afloat that officials are planning to cremate the body in any one of the burial lands in city limits. Soon, large number of locals living near Shakthinagar, Moodshedde, Padavinangadi, Sajipa and Kanchinadka burial grounds, came out to protest and prevent the burial. People gathered at the burial grounds till late night and failed to maintain social distance as they clearly violated lockdown rules completely.