Nabarangpur: In a troubling incident at Pondikote village under Papdahandi block in Nabarangpur district’s, the body of Domu Jani, a recent Christian convert, remained unburied for over 30 hours due to a dispute with local villagers over burial space.
According to reports, Jani, who had converted from Hinduism to Christianity two years ago, passed away on Monday, but Pondikote villager allegedly refused to allow his burial within the village, citing his religious conversion.
Efforts by Papdahandi Additional Tahasildar Susmita Kumari Jena and SDPO Minakshi Thakur to negotiate with the villagers on Monday night proved unsuccessful, as residents remained adamant deying the burial request.
After prolonged discussions and with no agreement reached, local authorities intervened to resolve the situation. On Tuesday afternoon, Domu Jani’s body was finally laid to rest in Urdiphatakat forest, under the supervision of SDPO Minakshi Thakur, Additional Tahsildar Susmita Kumari Jena, and the local IIC.
