Baripada: In a shocking incident highlighting deep-rooted village disputes, the body of a 92-year-old man lay at a cremation ground for nearly 10 hours in Mayurbhanj’s Baisinga area on Thursday night after two groups clashed over land ownership.
The deceased, identified as Benudhar Pradhan of Durgapur village under Baisinga panchayat, passed away late Thursday. However, when his family and neighbours attempted to perform his last rites at the Mahulpattadi field, members of Daleisahi from the same village objected, claiming the land was their ancestral cremation ground.
The confrontation rekindled tensions dating back to Rakhi Purnima, when both groups had clashed over the same piece of land during a plantation drive. At that time, the matter was temporarily settled with the intervention of the local administration.
With tempers flaring again, Pradhan’s family sought police help. Officials, including the Tehsildar of Betanati, Sushant Kumar Sutar, Baisinga police station IIC Barini Das, the local Sarpanch and Panchayat Samiti member, held discussions with both groups before identifying 15 decimals of land to be used as a cremation ground for both sides.
Only after this official resolution was the deceased’s cremation performed, nearly 10 hours after his passing, under the supervision of the administration.
