Refused Help Because of Caste, Boy Carries Mother’s Body on Cycle

The media reports cited ostracisation by the relatives as the reason for why the teenager was denied help.

Facing lack of assistance, 17-year-old Saroj reached out to his relatives and neighbours but was denied help.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

After he was refused help by his family, relatives and villagers to cremate his mother, a minor boy in Odisha’s Jharsugada decided to carry the body of his deceased mother on bicycle, reported local media.

According to a local news website, the incident is from Karpabhal village under Lakhanpur block of the district where a 45 year old woman Janaki Sinhania died after suffering from an ailment when boiling oil fell on her a month back. Due to insufficient treatment, the media report mentions that Janaki passed away.

Facing lack of assistance, 17-year-old Saroj reached out to his relatives and neighbours but was denied help.

The teenager then decided to wrap his mother’s body in a cloth, placed it on a plank and carried it for three kilometers to conduct the burial on his own, reported OdishaTV.in.

The media reports cited ostracisation by the relatives and acquaintances as the reason for why the teenager was denied help.

Saroj had to carry the body of his mother on a bicycle for nearly 3 to 4 kms and conducted the burial himself.

Jharsuguda Collector Bibhuti Bhusan Patnaik told Omm Com News that he was not aware of the incident but has said that the police officials will take appropriate action after conducting an inquiry.