Patna: Anger and anguish gripped a village in Vaishali district after Dalit villagers cremated the body of a 91-year-old woman on a public road, allegedly after being prevented from using the local cremation ground. The incident has prompted the district administration to order an inquiry. Officials said action would be taken once the probe report is submitted.According to villagers and police, the funeral procession of Jhapsi Devi, a resident of Sondho-Vashudeo village under Goraul police station, was on its way to the village cremation ground on Thursday when some influential villagers allegedly stopped them. The path leading to the cremation site was found to be blocked.Enraged by the obstruction, villagers carried the body to the middle of the road and cremated it there, performing full Vedic rituals. Jhapsi Devi had died late on Wednesday night. The unusual cremation led to tension and chaos in the area.Police reached the spot soon after receiving information and cleared the road, but resentment continued to simmer in the village.Taking note of the seriousness of the matter, the Vaishali district administration intervened on Friday. A team led by district magistrate (DM) Varsha Singh and superintendent of police (SP) Vikram Sihag visited the village to assess the situation and prevent further escalation.“The DM and I visited the spot and inquired about the problem. We found concrete shops and a temple built on the path leading to the cremation ground,” Sihag said on Friday. He added that a committee headed by the deputy development commissioner had been formed to look into the issue. “Action will be taken once the report comes,” he said.A district official said the administration was working towards a permanent solution. “The path leading to the cremation centre is blocked with concrete buildings, and they need to be bulldozed,” he said, adding that the encroachment had taken place eight to 10 years ago.The woman’s son, Sanjeet Manjhi, said the family had no option but to cremate her on the road. “Jab hamlogon ko nahin jane diya to gaon ke log bole ki yahi (road) par funk do,” he told the reporters.Another villager, Mewalal Manjhi, 67, who was part of the procession, spoke of deep despair. “We are poor, with no house, no land, and now not even being allowed to cremate the bodies of our near and dead ones. Kya karen hamlog?” he asked, urging the govt to ensure access to the cremation ground.Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) termed the incident tragic and demanded strict action. “The incident is extremely tragic. I express my deepest condolences to the victim’s family. The police administration is investigating this matter. Whoever is found guilty in this incident will be prosecuted,” the party’s chief spokesperson Rajesh Bhatt said on Friday.
