Christian family ‘made to return’ to previous religion after row over burial

Raipur: A late-night stand-off over the burial of a Christian woman in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district ended in a negotiated compromise after her family submitted a written undertaking to "return" to their previous faith and perform her last rites as per those customs. The dispute erupted in Borai village after the death of 65-year-old Puniya Bai Sahu, who had embraced Christianity some time ago. Following her sudden death on Wednesday evening, her family prepared to bury the body according to Christian practice, triggering strong opposition from local villagers and right-wing organisations. Villagers objected when the family first tried to bury the body in Borai village. The situation turned tense and, under pressure, the family attempted to shift the burial to another place in neighbouring Nagri region, but faced the same rebuttal. Local residents there also opposed the move, alleging that no land had been officially allotted for burials at the spot, said a police statement. With protests mounting at both locations, police and administrative officials rushed to the area. SDM Preeti Durgam, additional SP Mani Shankar Chandra, SDOP Vipin Rangari, tehsildar Chumman Dhruv, the SHO and a sizeable police force remained deployed through the evening and night, holding multiple rounds of talks with the family, villagers and representatives of various organisations.Officials said the administration advised the family to conduct the last rites at the soonest in view of local objections, but the family initially refused. As tempers ran high and the body remained uncremated for hours, a larger social meeting was convened in Borai late at night involving the Sahu family, village leaders and community representatives. After prolonged deliberations, the family submitted a written application to the administration expressing their willingness to "return" to Hinduism and to perform Puniya Bai's last rites according to Hindu traditions. In the written consent placed before sarv samaj, the family stated that they would now remain in the Hindu fold, worship local deities and follow traditional village customs. "The dispute was related to the last rites of a woman from the Sahu community who had died in Borai. There were differences within the family and in society over how the cremation should be done," additional SP Mani Shankar Chandra said, adding that a "social-level resolution" was finally reached after discussions. "The situation is peaceful now," he further claimed.Similar incidents are being reported from other parts of state where burial of a Christian person would become a cause of tension in remote areas, with demonstrators alleging religious conversion. In one such incident recently in Kanker district, the matter escalated to an extent that several cops got injured in a clash while trying to control the situation.At least 20 police personnel, were injured, a prayer hall was vandalised, and a mob later marched to Amabeda and set another church on fire. Right wing organisations observed a state ‘bandh' over the issue, which led to a FIR over a mall being vandalised by the right-wingers and confrontations with traders.