In Chennai, violence mars doctor’s burial

Chennai, April 20

An orthopaedic surgeon had to bury his associate, a neurosurgeon who died of Covid-19, in the middle of the night using his bare hands and a shovel at a crematorium with the help of two hospital ward boys after the undertakers fled when a mob, protesting the interment, attacked them.

The mob feared the contagion could spread in the neighbourhood if the virus victim’s burial was allowed.

The windscreen of the ambulance in which the body of the 55-year-old neurosurgeon was brought to the crematorium on Sunday night was smashed. Even the casket was not spared. The undertakers and sanitation officials were assaulted with bricks, stones, bottles and sticks and chased away. Seven persons, including two ambulance drivers, sustained severe injuries, the police said. Sources said 20 men had been arrested.

Recounting the ordeal, Dr K Pradeep Kumar said: “This must not happen to anyone, be it a doctor or a layman.” To a question, the doctor said there were no police officials around and the wife of the deceased and his teenaged son were also forced to leave the crematorium.

Local Administration Minister SP Velumani said it was inhuman to obstruct the burial of a doctor who served the people. Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association president Dr K Senthil demanded that the attackers be booked under the stringent Goonda Act. — PTI

Surgeon, ward boys turn undertakers

• An orthopaedic surgeon had to bury his associate who died of Covid-19 using his bare hands with the help of two hospital ward boys after the undertakers fled when a mob attacked them
• The mob feared the contagion could spread in the neighbourhood if the virus victim’s burial was allowed
• The windscreen of the ambulance in which the doctor’s body was brought was smashed