Lucknow:
It is the responsibility of the state to perform the last rites of unclaimed bodies but in the Gonda and Basti districts of Uttar Pradesh, bodies are dragged, kicked around and dumped in the open and in some cases, eaten away by the dogs.
We came across a body which was seen being dragged through the muddy fields with a noose around its neck only to be dumped in the Kuano river in Basti.
Constable Manoj Kumar Jha reportedly had orders to perform the last rites of the body after a post mortem. But instead, he allegedly just paid the cleaner at the mortuary Rs 200 to dump it in the river.
In Sitapur, Deputy Superintendent of Police JP Singh wanted to inspect the body of a 35-year-old-man who had been stabbed to death. However, Mr Singh did not want any blood stains on his hands; so he used his booted leg to uncover the body. He has now been transferred.
"We have ordered a probe and the officer has been removed from his posting to ensure transparency in the probe," said Deepak Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Sitapur.
In Gonda, unclaimed bodies have been dumped in the bushes near the mortuary. The police are given Rs 1500 for a burial or cremation of every unclaimed body. But Gonda, rickshaw drivers are reportedly asked to dump these bodies in the open where they are eaten by stray dogs.
"You have brought this to my notice so I will have this checked. We have orders to perform last rites based on the person's religion and those are the orders that have been passed on to junior officers as well. I will get this checked," said Kripa Shankar, Superintendent of Police, Gonda.