Widow’s night of agony: Husband’s body left unattended for 22 hours due to caste boycott

In a deeply disturbing incident that exposes the persistence of caste-based discrimination, a man’s body remained unattended for nearly 22 hours at Dhansimula village under Jaleswar block in Balasore district. The villagers allegedly refused to help with the final rites due to long-standing caste ostracism of the deceased’s family.

The deceased has been identified as Biswanath Dehuri. According to reports, Biswanath suddenly fell ill and collapsed while working in a paddy field on Friday. Despite efforts, he could not be revived. However, tragedy deepened when no one from the village stepped forward to carry the body or assist with the cremation, citing social boycott of his family.

With no support forthcoming, Biswanath’s wife spent the entire night sitting beside his body, waiting in despair for someone to help during the most difficult moment of her life. Her pleas reportedly went unanswered as the village maintained its rigid stance of exclusion.

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Only on Saturday did a group of volunteers arrive at the village and step in to help conduct the final rites, providing some relief to the grieving family.

Speaking at the cremation site, volunteer Manas Dhal expressed anguish over the situation. “A father nurtures his son hoping he will perform his last rites. But it is heartbreaking that even the son is not responding to calls while his father lies dead for two days. Nothing can be more painful or shameful than this. It is regrettable that casteism and untouchability still survive in our society,” he said.

The incident has sparked shock and outrage, raising serious questions about social equality and humanity in rural Odisha.