Body Awaits Funeral For Hours Amid Conversion Row In Odisha Village
The incident occurred in Dumurimunda village under Raighar police limits, where Raimati Gond had passed away on Monday: Reports
BHUBANESWAR: Tension gripped a remote village in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district on Tuesday after the body of an elderly woman remained un-cremated for over 21 hours, following a dispute linked to alleged religious conversion.
The incident occurred in Dumurimunda village under Raighar police limits, where Raimati Gond had passed away on Monday. According to local sources, the deceased had converted from Hinduism to another faith a few years ago. After her death, her family attempted to perform the last rites at the village cremation ground, traditionally used by the Hindu community.
However, villagers objected, arguing that the family should not be allowed to use the common cremation ground after changing their religion. They reportedly insisted that the funeral could only take place there if conducted according to Hindu rituals. Alternatively, they suggested that the family use a burial or cremation site associated with their adopted faith.
The disagreement triggered a prolonged standoff, leaving the body lying at the residence as tensions escalated. Sources said the family also struggled to secure private land for the funeral, compounding their distress.
Police personnel from Raighar reached the village and attempted to mediate between the two sides. Despite their intervention, no resolution had been achieved till late Tuesday, and the situation remained sensitive.
The family has approached the local administration, seeking urgent intervention to ensure the last rites can be conducted with dignity.
Speaking to reporters, former sarpanch Subash Gond said he learned about the matter only recently. He noted that villagers, including those from nearby Satapali, were opposing the cremation due to the family’s change in religious affiliation.
He added that some villagers had indicated they might reconsider their stance if the deceased’s family returned to Hindu customs—an assertion that underscores the deep social fault lines surrounding religion, caste practices, and access to shared community resources in rural Odisha.
Till the last report came in, authorities were trying to convince the villagers to reach a conciliation so that the last rites of the deceased could be conducted with dignity and honour.
