Sambalpur: Young Woman Raped and Murdered, Villagers Refuse Cremation Due to Superstition, Police Roam with Body for 3 Hours
Sambalpur: In a shocking incident, a young woman from Nakatideul village was raped and murdered, and her funeral was delayed for three hours due to local superstitions. Villagers refused to allow the cremation because they feared her spirit would haunt them.
Superstitions Lead to Cremation Ban
Following the post-mortem at Burla’s Vimsar, the victim’s body was returned to her village for a funeral. However, the villagers, terrified that the deceased would return as a ghost to terrorize them, prevented the family from performing her last rites in the village. In addition, locals objected to cremation on the victim’s family-owned land.
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Funeral Procession Faces Opposition
The body had to be transported two kilometers away to the Tikira Riverbank for cremation. On the way, residents of Jharabeda village interrupted the funeral procession, demanding that the body be cremated where the incident occurred. The administration and the victim’s family were forced to retreat and look for a new location.
Administrative Intervention and Continued Resistance
Despite the presence of a large police presence, including two ASIs, an SDPO, and five platoons of officers, the local villagers continued to resist, delaying the funeral process. Eventually, the family and district administration agreed to relocate the cremation to the Redhakhol cremation ground. However, local women protested, further delaying the final rites.
Widespread Condemnation
This incident has sparked widespread condemnation in the district. In an age when modernization is supposed to be at the forefront, the influence of deep-rooted superstitions has not only delayed the young woman’s final rites but also revealed a disturbing lack of humanity. Despite their best efforts, the administration was unable to provide a timely and dignified farewell to the victim. Residents and officials in the district have expressed shock and dismay that superstitions continue to trump basic human decency in the area.
