Keonjhar: A woman with the help of neighbours, local sarpanch and ward member carried the body of her mother on her shoulder to the cremation ground and performed her last rites as her three brothers did not turn up for the funeral at Saleikana village under Telkoi police limits of Keonjhar district.
Apurba Nayak, an octogenarian passed away at her elder daughter Nirash Nayak’s house in Saleikana village today.
Apurba of Marsuan village under Joda block was staying at Nirash’s house as her three sons neglected her after her husband Mukunda’s death.
“As my three brothers did not take care of our mother, she was staying with us for the last five years. My brothers never spoke or enquired about her all these years. Today after she died, I contacted my brothers to come for mother’s funeral. They told me to get my mother’s body to their place. I don’t have the means to afford that so I am going to cremate her with the help of my neighbours, local sarpanch and ward member,” said Nirash.
“Since her sons did not turn up for the funeral and we were requested we are helping in the cremation,” said one of Nirash’s neighbour.
Similar views were expressed by the local sarpanch who was at Nirash’s place to lend a hand at the octogenarian’s funeral.
“I received a call from the old woman’s grandson that his grandmother is dead. Since her sons haven’t turned up, we are going to cremate the body,” said Pangela Munda, the local sarpanch.