83-year-old denied cremation over faith

The Sangh Parivar last week denied cremation of an 83-year-old Dalit because of his Christian faith.

The deceased, Subarna Digal, died of natural causes on Dec. 27 in Milsikia village of Kandhamal district.

Digal was born into a Hindu family but had recently converted to Christianity.

"No villager should have been denied the last rites on any account. Digal accepted the Christian faith on his own will," said Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar.

According to one of the relatives of the deceased, members of the Sangh Parivar threatened and forced the family to leave the cremation ground. In addition to that the entire family was also asked to leave the village, he said.

The family was forced to cremate Subarna's body near a mountain close to the village.

Archbishop Cheenath mourned that the extremists acted in an inhumane way, showing 'disrespect' to the dead.

Kandhamal district in Orissa was the epicenter of anti-Christian riots from August to October 2008.

Last month, eighteen persons were convicted and 64 others acquitted by two fast track courts while disposing of eight cases related to the riots.

Church people have condemned the large acquittals which they say is the result of intimidation and coercion.