Villagers protest burial of boy’s body in Erode

As efforts by authorities to convince the villagers turned futile, the mortal remains of the youth were shifted and buried in Gobichettipalayam past midnight around 1.30 am.

A native of Avinashi, the youth was residing with his parents at Nambiyur. He was suffering from severe lung ailment and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Coimbatore over the last several years.

“As his condition deteriorated, the youth was hospitalised in Coimbatore and then shifted to the district headquarters hospital in Erode. He, however, died on Sunday afternoon despite treatment,” said police.

Following this, the family members had taken the body of the deceased for burial in Nambiyur. Even as arrangements were underway to bury the body, over 50 villagers descended on the Nambiyur-Kedarai Road protesting against burying his body in their village.

They alleged that the youth had died of COVID-19 and expressed fear that burying his body in the village may lead to spread of the infection in the locality.

Tahsildar Venkadeswaran, senior police officials and doctors from Nambiyur Block Primary Health Centre arrived and informed the villagers that the youth died of lung ailment and not due to any other issues. They also claimed that he tested negative for COVID-19.

Yet, the villagers refused to allow the burial of the body and continued their protest. As they refused to relent, a large posse of police led by Superintendent of Police S Sakthi Ganesan came to the spot to tackle the situation.

But the parents of the deceased youth changed their plans and sought permission from authorities to bury the body in Gobichettipalayam. With permission being given, the body was taken Gobichettipalayam and buried around 1.30 am on Monday.