Violence mars COVID-19 doctor-victim's burial, surgeon, ward boys turn undertakers

Chennai, Apr 20 () In a poignant incident, anorthopaedic surgeon had to bury his associate, a neurosurgeonwho died of COVID-19 here, in the middle of the night usinghis bare hands and a shovel at a crematorium with the help ofjust two hospital wardboys after the undertakers fled when amob, protesting the interment, attacked them.

Their opposition was due to a misconception thatthe contagion may spread in their neighbourhood if the virusvictim's burial took place.

The windscreens of the ambulance in which thebody of the 55-year-old neurosurgeon was brought to thecrematorium on Sunday night were smashed and even the casketwas not spared.

They attacked the undertakers and coroporationsanitation officials, among others, using bricks, stones,bottles and sticks and chased them away.

Seven people, including two ambulance driverswere assaulted resulting in severe injuries,police said.

The sources said 20 men have been arrested andwere remanded to judicial custody.

Recounting with grief the attack that unfolded,Dr K Pradeep Kumar, an orthopaedic and arthroscopysurgeon,told , "this must not happen to anyone be it adoctor or a layman.

I have seen people dying but I have not buried anyoneand doing it was scary amid a fear for our lives."

Though the private hospital authorities handed overthe body to the sanitation officials last night, theambulance carrying the remains did not start from there.

"When we enquired why, we were told that peoplewere opposing and holding a protest near Kilpauk," Pradeepsaid.

He drove to that locality in his car to assess thesituation and found people had gathered in large numbers andwere agitated.

Later, civic body officials made arrangementsfor burial at another crematorium at nearby Velangadu, and theambulance headed there.

"It may have been about 15 minutes since theexcavator started work to dig a pit, when about 60-70 peoplearmed with stones, bricks and sticks gathered inside thecreamatorium and began attacking us.

The two ambulance drivers who were shifting thebody from the vehicle to the ground sustained severeinjuries," Pradeep said.

Also, two sanitation officials who were incharge of the burial were injured severely and three otherswere also attacked, he said.

To a question, the doctor said there were nopolice officials around and the wife of the deceased and histeenage son were also forced to leave the crematorium.

"Though injured, the ambulance drivers Dhamuand Anand were brave enough to place the casket again in thevehicle and I asked them to leave the place and I followedthem in my car," he said, adding he escaped from attack due toGod's grace.

The ambulance drivers somehow managed to reachthe hospital of the deceased and left the vehicle there.

Dr Pradeep said he picked up personalprotective equipment, took two wardboys with him for help anddrove the ambulance himself to the crematorium again afterseeking police help.

"Both the drivers suffered deep cuts on theirscalp, requiring multiple sutures and had contusion too and Igot them admitted to Kilpauk government hospital," he added.

When he reached the crematorium again, theorthopaedic surgeon saw police deployment in the peripherythough there were still people out milling around.

"Only an eerie silence and there were noneinside the burial ground. The wardboys and I hurriedly loweredthe body into the pit as we were afraid that the violence maybe repeated."

Though they placed the body on the ground, they hadno one to help them to fill the grave with sand.

"There was just one shovel which I gave to oneof the ward boys and two of us used our hands to fill theabout 8-10 feet pit.

It took over an hour for us to complete the task andby then it was about 1.30 am (Monday)," he said, adding apoliceman lent a helping hand towards the end.

"Even policemen were afraid of coming near us."

Dr M Arunmozhirajan, a friend of the victim, who hadto beat a hasty retreat from the crematorium, said "this isdue to ignorance; people need to be educated that a body whenburied poses no threat."

An assistant professor at a government hospital, hewanted authorities to ensure that such instances do not getrepeate.

Local Administration Minister S P Velumani said itwas inhuman to obstruct the burial of a doctor who worked forthe people and assaulting people involved in the burial likecorporation workers caused grief.

He asserted that tough action will be taken againstsuch elements and added that those involved in the attack havebeen arrested.

Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association presidentDr K Senthil demanded slapping of the stringent Goondas Act onthose who unleashed violence.

Health Secretary Beela Rajesh said: "Saluatations toDr..for his exemplary service in the fight against COVID-19.Let us stand by each and every healthcare worker, they are thereal heroes." Dr J Amalorpavanathan, formerly convener, CadaverTransplant Programme, Tamil Nadu government, said "A deadperson cannot sneeze or cough or breathe.

So all ways of infection spread stops the moment aperson dies.Viral replication also stops.Skin may containviral particles.So long as there is no touch , there is zeropercent chance of infection spread." VGNBNWELCOME VGNBNWELCOME