60 booked for opposing coronavirus victim’s cremation

Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, April 9

An FIR was lodged against 60 unidentified residents of Harnamdsapura after they stalled the cremation of the city’s first Covid-19 deceased here today. The victim, a 59-year-old chemist, had died early this morning.

The FIR has been lodged under Sections 188, 269, 270, 271, 353, 186, 149 of the IPC, Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act 1996.

The cremation eventually took place at the same cremation ground after a delay of two hours. Apprehensive of the spread of infection in the area due to the cremation, area residents had locked the gate of the crematorium.

They obstructed the entry of vehicles. It took the administrative officials two hours to convince the people.

Senior officers, including Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar, SDM, and local councillors, were present on the occasion. A team of health officials cremated the body following the guidelines. Commissioner of police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said those who opposed the cremation were being identified.