Karnataka: After Ballari, burial video now surfaces from Yadgir

RAICHUR/YADGIR: Just a day after shocking visuals of bodies of Covid-19 victims being handled disrespectfully emerged from Ballari, a similar video from Yadgir has come to light.
The video, which shows two persons in PPE suits dragging and throwing the body of a Covid-infected senior citizen in a pit, has gone viral on social media. The man died on Monday and the incident occurred on Tuesday.
Originally from Yadgir, the man had settled in Siravara, Raichur district.He was busy with his daughter’s wedding on Sunday, which had been postponed due to the lockdown. According to a relative, he complained of breathing problems on Monday, following which an ambulance was called to ferry him to Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).
Raichur deputy commissioner (DC) R Venkatesh said the man was brought dead to the hospital. His family members were quarantined and his body was packed as per protocol and sent to his home district of Yadgir. “His swab sample was tested in Yadgir and the result was positive,” added the DC.
As soon as residents of Honagera village learned about arrival of the body, they harassed the man’s family members, asking them not to bury it in any village field. Sridevi, a relative of the deceased, said: “Locals assembled near our house and threatened us with dire consequences. Fearing backlash, we asked the district authorities to perform the last rites in the farmland owned by the man. But it’s painful to see the video of the body being inhumanely dragged and dumped.”
The video shows the two persons dragging the body using a wooden log, which has been attached to the body bag, for nearly 300 metres. A few officials are seen/heard directing the duo towards the pit and giving other instructions. After reaching the pit, the duo is seen dumping the body in it along with the log. Several villagers are also seen in the video.
Efforts to reach Yadgir DC Kurma Rao went in vain.