9-year-old boy seeks police help after ‘villagers avoid’ cancer-stricken father’s funeral

A disturbing incident has come to light from Sundargarh district of Odisha, where a nine-year-old boy sat beside his father’s body throughout the night after villagers allegedly failed to turn up for the last rites, sources said on Wednesday.

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The incident occurred at Kantara-Koida village under Koida police limits in Sundargarh. The deceased, Muthu Gunda, had been battling cancer and was undergoing treatment at home after returning from the hospital. He had passed away on Sunday afternoon.

However, after Muthu’s death, no villagers allegedly came forward to help carry out the funeral rites. With no one to shoulder his father’s bier, the grieving child approached the local police seeking assistance. Acting on the request, police personnel reached the village and helped conduct the last rites of the deceased.

The incident has sparked concern over social apathy, as the village was in tears while the young boy waited helplessly beside his father’s body. No official reaction from local police authorities has been received so far regarding the matter.

Worth mentioning, earlier in another incident, the body of a 14-year-old boy had been lying inside his paternal house for over 24 hours after villagers allegedly refused to allow his cremation. The incident had taken place in Kopena village under the Umerkote police limits of Nabarangpur district.

The minor had passed away on February 14, but simmering tensions between two groups in the village had escalated into a dispute over access to the cremation ground.