Residents of Umshangling village move DC Abhilash Baranwal
From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH, Jan 13: The residents of Umshangling village in Ri-Bhoi district on Monday lodged a complaint with Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal over the improper burial of an unclaimed body.
The burial took place at a place close to the Nongpoh waste disposal area in Umshangling.
After submitting the complaint to the DC, Umshangling village headman James Maiong, village secretary Vincent Sohkhwai and a woman representative Angelina Tado expressed deep concerns over the incident.
They said the improperly-buried body was left exposed, allowing dogs to dig it up and scatter body parts across various parts of the village on Sunday.
The village leaders described the burial as not only disrespectful to the community but also a health hazard for the residents. They said such actions demonstrate a lack of consideration for public health and safety, as well as for the dignity of the deceased.
They urged the DC to take immediate action to ensure that such incidents do not recur. They demanded stricter measures for future burials of unclaimed bodies at the designated site, including the presence of responsible personnel and prior notification to the village authorities. They warned that if action is not taken, the community may be compelled to restrict further burials at the location.
The DC assured the village leaders that he will take prompt action on the issue. He further stated that he will convene a meeting soon with the police department, the Nongpoh Town Committee, and other stakeholders to ensure that such incidents do not recur.