Ambala villagers oppose Covid victim’s cremation, attack cops

Tribune News Service

Ambala, April 27

A police party was attacked in Chandpura village in Ambala Cantonment where villagers objected to the cremation of an 82-year-old local woman, whom they suspected died of Covid. Cops had to fire shots in the air to disperse the mob, though the police denied use of force.

The woman, a chronic diabetes patient, died at the Ambala Cantonment Civil Hospital on Monday afternoon. She displayed no Covid-like symptoms, but doctors took her sample as a precautionary measure and to allay apprehensions. The report was awaited.

As soon as bereaved family members reached Chandpura village with the body, residents stopped them from performing her last rites. Sensing trouble, the police was called but the villagers were adamant not to allow the cremation.

“We tried our best to pacify villagers to allow the cremation, but they instead pelted stones on us, following which we rounded up six persons. Finally the body was cremated late in the evening,” said DSP Ram Kumar. He said legal action was being initiated against the attackers.