The civil authorities in Ri-Bhoi allegedly bungled the burial of an unclaimed body, leading to stray dogs disturbing the grave and unearthing the remains, thereby causing panic among villagers.
Representatives of the Dorbar Shnong of Umshangling village today met the Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal to submit a formal complaint about the improper disposal of the body in the village cemetery.
The village has an agreement with police for its cemetery to be used as a final resting place of those bodies that have not been claimed by relatives.
This case, however, resulted in a gruesome sight for the villagers and robbed the deceased of a decent burial.
Village headman James Maiong and village secretary Vincent Sohkhwai emphasised the seriousness of the situation and urged the DC to address the matter promptly. They highlighted that such incidents pose significant health risks to the villagers.
The Dorbar Shnong further warned that if the issue is not resolved, the community will consider disallowing the burial of any more unclaimed bodies in its graveyard.
In response, Baranwal assured that the issue would be taken seriously. He announced plans to convene a meeting with the police, Nongpoh Town Committee and officials of the district administration to ensure that such improper handling of unclaimed bodies is not repeated.
