Funeral of COVID-19 victim held amid protest in Karnataka

Mangaluru, Apr 24 () The funeral of a 75-year-oldwoman, who died of COVID-19, was held amid opposition fromlocal people in Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka, policesaid on Friday. The final rites of the woman from Kasba village were heldat the Hindu Rudrabhoomi at Kaikunje near Bantwal town, about30 kms from here, on Thursday night under strict policeprotection, even as local people who feared risk to theirhealth raised protests, they said. The funeral was held as per the protocol for COVID-19deaths, police said. The authorities had earlier decided to hold the cremationat Pachanady, but changed their plans after stiff oppositionfrom the local residents there. Local MLA Bharath Y Shetty denined reports that he hadobjected to the cremation at Pachanady. There will not be any danger to the local people ifCOVID-19 victims are cremated in their places, he said in apost on social media. Such protests due to misconception about spread ofcoronavirus had been witnessed in some other parts of thecountry, including in Chennai, and the governments have warnedof action against those opposing cremation or burial ofCOVID-19 patients. MVGVS VS