Daijiworld Media Network - Madikeri (SP)

Madikeri, Jul 7: In a strange and rare case reported from Gopalapura village near Shanivarasanthe in Somwarpet taluk, wife and children of a deceased man refused to attend his funeral. The man's relatives were unwilling to perform his last rites. The locals then performed funeral as per Hindu traditions.

Yousuf alias Varghese (68) from Gopalapura had breathed his last. He had born into a Christian family but had converted into Islam a few years back and changed his name as Yousuf. His wife and three children live in Mangaluru and Yousuf was living alone at Gopalapura.

Yousuf had been admitted into the Kodagu district hospital at Madikeri due to certain age-related ailments. On July 4, he breathed his last. As no relative came forward to claim the mortal remains, the staff had placed the body in the hospital mortuary, treating it as an unclaimed body. Information about the issue was provided in social media.

Some locals from Gopalapura, who came to know about the incident, supported by workers of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, got in touch with the wife and children of the deceased but they failed to respond. Therefore, the body was brought to Gopalapura village and the funeral was performed as per Hindu customs.