City
Epaper

After 31 days of protests, woman buried in Kerala (Lead, Correcting headline)

By IANS | Updated: June 13, 2019 12:35 IST

After 31 days of been mired in controversy over maintenance of a Church cemetery near here in Kerala, the funeral of a 75-year-old lady took place on Thursday morning amidst tight security.

Open in App

Annamma's funeral took place with a bishop of the Mar Thoma Church leading the prayers and the parish vicar of the Thuruthikkara Jerusalem Mar Thoma Church.

Annamma died on May 14 of old age complications. However, her funeral could not happend as some locals were demanding proper maintenance of the cemetery, built in 1999, claiming that seepages from it were polluting nearby wells and streams.

They cited a Kerala High Court order that said the cemetery should be used only after proper modernisation.

"28 families live here and this is the first funeral that has taken place after 2014. We have been living in fear. Due to this cemetery our wells are contaminated. Earlier, this cemetery was used by various churches. But not any more. Bodies of only this church members would be interned here," said a resident.

The High Court in a order had said the funeral should take place after the side walls of the grave where Annamma's body would be laid to rest were freshly concreted.

Speaking to , John C. Chacko, parish vicar of the church where the funeral took place, said that the cemetery has now been refurbished as per the directions of the High Court .

"The construction was overseen by the engineers of the Public Works Department. The funeral service went off with a strong police force keeping the protesters away," said Chacko.

Annamma's grandson Rahul heaved a sigh of relief and said the ordeal was finally over.

( With inputs from IANS )

Open in App

Related Stories

CricketPCB Moves PSL 2025 to UAE as Tensions With India Escalate After 'Operation Sindoor'

InternationalMoS Defence Sanjay Seth thanks Russia for support to India in fight against terror

NationalPunjab shuts all educational institutes, cancels exams

InternationalTaiwan detects hike in Chinese activity around itself

InternationalPakistan Denies Role in Drone Attacks on India, Says 'Baseless and Irresponsible' Allegations

National Realted Stories

NationalPakistan's F-16 and 2 JF-17 jets shot down by India

NationalBJP MP Nishikant Dubey says decisive action will be taken by Centre today amid military standoff with Pakistan

National24 airports shut, airlines issue travel advisories amid tensions between India-Pakistan

NationalIndia to present its case today before IMF to review bailout package to Pakistan

NationalIndia foils Pakistan's drone, missile assault to attack Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur