Three policemen in Karnataka, in an unusual gesture, performed the last rites of a mentally challenged man earlier this week after his family members refused to carry out the last rites fearing they'll catch coronavirus.
The 44-year-old man was trampled to death by an elephant four days ago in the border district of Chamarajanagar district near Mysore. The area has frequent cases of human animal conflicts.
After the postmortem, his family in a village in the district refused to take the body.
Policeman Madegowda got a grave dug for the man in Chamarajanagar.
Assistant Sub Inspector Madegowda and two other cops ensured that the man got dignity in death. They performed his last rites at a Hindu cemetery in Chamarajanagar. There was no priest present.
Mr Madegowda got a grave dug in the cemetery with an earthmover. It was the officer who brought a piece of white cloth to cover the body. With the help of the two other cops, he buried the man in the grave. Madegowda was seen holding incense sticks and praying before the man's grave.
"The deceased was not mentally stable. The Assistant Sub Inspector performed the last rites three days back," said police officer Sunil, in-charge of the Chamrajanagar East police station.
In Relief For DK Shivakumar, High Court Rejects CBI Plea To Continue Probe Court Says Governor Can Act On His Own In Siddaramaiah Prosecution Order "Will Accept Supreme Court's Decision As God's Own": DK Shivakumar On Assets Case Celebrated "Russian Spy" Whale Hvaldimir Found Dead In Norway: Report INDIA's "Hit With Footwear" Protest In Mumbai Over Shivaji Statue Collapse Nurse Molested By Patient During Late Night Shift At West Bengal Hospital Synthetic Food Colours, Expired Food Items And More Found At Restaurants In Sainikpuri Royal Enfield Launches New Revit All-Weather Gear In India Houthi Rebels Say They Attacked Merchant Ship Off Yemen Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.