A prolonged family dispute over social customs and monetary disagreements in Kamasasan village under Dharakote police limits, Aska, Ganjam, resulted in the body of a 65-year-old woman remaining uncremated for almost 20 hours, creating tension in the locality. The last rites were stalled as two sides of the family refused to agree on ritual rights and the handling of funds meant for funeral expenses.

According to reports, the issue arose following the death of S. Ratnalu Reddy, who had lost her husband and two sons earlier and was living with her two daughters. Villagers allegedly refrained from participating in the funeral rituals due to an ongoing conflict over traditional customs. At the same time, the deceased’s daughters insisted that cremation would not take place until the dispute over social practices was resolved.

Family Differences and Monetary Conflict

Sources said that after the deaths of her husband and son, Reddy had purchased a house for her daughters. Meanwhile, her daughter-in-law was living separately after her husband’s death. A long-standing property dispute within the family had been resolved earlier, with Rs 4 lakh set aside specifically for Reddy’s funeral expenses.

However, the daughter-in-law claimed that she had already received the Rs 4 lakh during the settlement, while the daughters refused to conduct the last rites unless they were handed the money for the funeral. She also demanded that the body be given to her so she could perform the rituals, an offer rejected by the daughters, resulting in a deadlock that halted the cremation.

Villagers Express Concern

Villagers expressed discomfort over the prolonged deadlock, noting that as per local customs, households could not cook food until the cremation was completed. This added urgency to resolving the matter swiftly.

Dharakote police arrived at the scene and held discussions with both sides. The village head later convened a meeting involving members of both families. After deliberations, it was decided that issues related to social ostracisation and the monetary dispute would be dealt with separately at a later time. The immediate priority, all parties agreed, was to perform the cremation of the deceased.

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Authorities said efforts are underway to ensure no further escalation and expressed hope that remaining disputes will be settled amicably.