Cashless kin burn woman’s body at burial site on their own

The incident came to light on Monday after a few locals spotted the half-burnt corpse abandoned at the burial ground premises and informed the police. The body was burnt beyond recognition and the burial ground staff had no idea about how the body reached there. 

“Around 4 pm, the police went to the spot and retrieved the body. The body was wrapped in a green plastic cover, suggesting that it could be a medico legal case,” said a police source. 

After checking with Government Royapettah Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital to find out the identity of the woman, the police said the body was that of a woman named Vijayakumari (32) from Kannagi Nagar. 

It is said that she suffered seizures recently and died on the way to hospital. The deceased was handed over to her family members after a post-mortem. The police said that Vijayakumari lived in Madipakkam with her husband Balaraman. 

On Sunday, she suffered a bout of fits and was rushed to Chrompet Government Hospital. However, she passed away on the way to the hospital. After accepting her body from the mortuary, the Madipakkam police registered a case of IPC 174 (unnatural death) and handed over it to the family members. 

Inspector of police of Kannagai Nagar Vivekanandan said, “For cremating the body at Kannagi Nagar burial ground, the family has to get a bill from the Corporation after paying Rs 10,000, which they could not afford. Hence, without the knowledge of the burial man at Kannagi Nagar they burnt it and left.”