After hours of stiff resistance from locals, body of COVID-19 victim finally cremated in Tripura

June 11: The outbreak of coronavirus pandemic have brought to surface various aspects of human nature. However, a peculiar phenomenon which was witnessed in many places was resistance from the locals while cremating or burial of COVID-19 victims. When a doctor succumbed to novel coronavirus in Shillong, he was not allowed to be buried in several places initially. Finally, after strict intervention of state machinery, he could be laid to rest. A somewhat similar incident was also reported from Tripura.

When a COVID-19 positive patient died on Tuesday at GBP hospital in Tripura, the district administration tried to cremate the body of the victim at Battala Crematorium. However, local people of the Battala Cremation ground area came out in resistance. They including women came out in roads and put up barricades to prevent the dead body from entering the crematorium. The locals claimed that the body would pose a bigger threat to their locality.

Finally, BJP MLAs Sudip Roy Barman and Asish Kumar Saha reached Battala and talked with the local people. After much persuasion, they were able to dispel the misconception among the local people. Finally, after long hours of wait, the body could be creamted observing certain safety protocols.