Dnyandeo Ware (52), Head Constable in the Mumbai Police Force, has completed 20 years of his service. During his service, he has claimed to have performed last rites of more than 1 lakh unclaimed bodies. During the Coronavirus pandemic, he performed last rites and cremated the bodies of 500 Coronavirus patient.
Dnyandev Ware, is posted at the Tardeo Police Station, joined the Mumbai Police Force in 1995. He lives in Chembur with his wife, daughter and son. He served in the police station for the first 6 years. As soon as he returned from duty in 2000, he was given the responsibility of driving hearse vans in the city.
Initially, it was not easy for me to do this job. For a month, I couldn’t eat or sleep properly. I would often get fever as I had to handle bodies in different conditions. Some bodies were completely decomposed, some were mutilated and some cut into pieces. I was scared and would get nightmares. After a month, I got used to it and decided to continue doing the job thinking it was a noble deed. I took it as my contribution to help the soul rest in peace,” said Ware.
In the early days of the corona, where even blood relatives were separated, 500 corona-infected corpses were cremated with masks over their mouths and gloves on their hands. Hindus were buried according to Hindu religion, while Muslims were buried at Bada Cemetery. Ware said that they also did funeral of 8 unclaimed bodies on Wednesday.