Cops became the pallbearers as superstition kept people away

Cops became the pallbearers as superstition kept people away

Mangalore Today News Network

Puttur, Mar 03, 2018 :  In a heartrending incident which has come to light today, the family of an 80-year old man who had died was left to fend for themselves as none of their villagers was willing to help in shifting the dead body. The incident is reported from Koila village near Puttur.

 

On Friday (2nd March), Asalappa, the octogenarian, was walking in the hills when he suddenly collapsed and died at a place called Gulgody near the village. However his poor and grief stricken family was faced with a strange problem. The locals were unwilling to help them in shifting his body. The reason for this, it transpires, is that a ‘Daiva Nema’ (spirit worship) ceremony was scheduled to take place in the town the next day. Hence the people were hesitant in touching the dead body as it considered to be not auspicious.

When Balakrishna Koila, the local reporter for Vijaya Karnataka newspaper came to know of the sad plight of the family, he promptly brought the matter to the notice of the police. Kadaba station police rose to the occasion with Sub-Inspector Prakash Devadiga, ASI Ravi and Home Guard Sandhesh themselves lending their shoulders to carry the body back to the home of the family.
 
The deceased is said to be originally from Jambadahalli village of Tarikere taluk of Chikmagalur district. He was visiting his son who had married and settled down near Kadaba. They were of traditional fishing occupation, it is learned. 

Dr B. R. Ravikanthe Gowda, Superintendent of Police, Dakshina Kannada has appreciated the humane action of the officers and announced a reward to all of them. The journalist who first intimated the police will also be a given Letter of Appreciation, he has said.