Madurai: In a shocking incident, the family members of a woman who died prayed for three days beside the body with a strong belief that she would come back alive in Madurai in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
According to the police, Malathi, wife of Balakrishnan, working as a manager in a private hotel and living in SS Colony, Madurai, died on November 8 while undergoing treatment in the hospital.
Her family shifted the body to the house but did not inform the relatives about the death. Instead, they preserved it in the freezer box. The couple have two sons pursuing medicine.
Sensing that Malathi’s last rites were not performed even after three days, her neighbours informed the police. The cops reached the woman’s house and tried to shift the body when her family members threatened to die by suicide.
When the police warned them of arrest, the trio moved the body to Kalakaatti in Tirunalveli district, their native place.
During investigation, it was learnt that Balakrishnan and his family, though belonging to Hindu religion, converted to Christianity a few years ago. Believing that the dead would come back alive if they prayed for her soul, the trio continued to do so even when the body was decomposing and emanating foul smell.
