Bhubaneswar: City police on Saturday recovered the half-burnt body of a woman from a crematorium where her daughter-in-law was allegedly trying to conduct the funeral without informing other relatives. The deceased, Anshrukana Pradhan (79), was the wife of former Brahmagiri MLA Ajay Jena.
Police recovered the body based on a complaint filed by some family members, including Anshrukana’s brother and sister, alleging foul play.
“The body will be sent for post-mortem after which it will be handed over to the relatives. Based on forensic evidence, police will proceed with the case. If any relative lodges a specific complaint, we will look into that. But now our priority will be to get the post-mortem report,” said DCP Pinak Mishra.
In the afternoon, the crematorium at Satya Nagar here witnessed chaotic scenes with a group of relatives seeking police help to stop the funeral of Anshrukana. Police asked the crematorium staff to douse the flames and took out the body from the pyre. It was then wrapped and taken to the hospital for post-mortem.
In the meantime, two groups of relatives — one from Anshrukana’s daughter-in-law’s side, who brought her for cremation, and another from the side of the deceased’s brother and sister — were seen exchanging heated words.
“We came to know about her death and rushed to the crematorium. Before going to the spot, we informed the police. We strongly suspect foul play,” said a relative from the sister’s side.
Anshrukana’s daughter-in-law said that her condition deteriorated, prompting her to take her to a clinic, where doctors checked her. “After she passed away in the clinic, I informed two of my relatives, and they knew I was taking the body for cremation,” she told the media.
Police are investigating whether there is a family dispute angle in the incident.