UP deploys cops, CCTVs to stop dumping of bodies in rivers

NEW DELHI: Days after the

Union Jal Shakti ministry

and the

National Mission for Clean Ganga

expressed regret over bodies being dumped in the Ganga amid Covid-19 surge, Uttar Pradesh has rushed to deploy police teams asking people to refrain from conducting water burials on loudspeakers. It is monitoring activities on

CCTV

and video cameras. There is apprehension that the bodies were of Covid patients.


UP police has now pressed into service 34 teams across

Ghazipur

and

Ballia

, including 18 ghats there, to keep vigil. The cops can be seen travelling on boats and telling people on public address systems to not immerse dead bodies in the river. State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) and flood units of

PAC

are aiding the effort.

UP additional director general of police, law and order, Prashant Kumar, said, "We have also deployed one team of SDRF each in seven districts -- Gorakhpur, Hamirpur, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Unnao, Kanpur and Hamirpur. In addition, flood companies of Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC) have been pushed into action in 22 districts including Barabanki, Kaushambi, Raebareli, Deoria and Kushinagar where we believe such attempts to bury the dead will be made." A single six-km long stretch between Ghazipur and Saidpur has more than 200 policemen keeping watch on attempts to immerse bodies.

Sixteen bodies were picked up from Ghazipur ghats in a span of two days this week with the help of 'Dom rajas'. These bodies were re-cremated but there were no claimants. UP police said these bodies could be from Prayagraj, Chandauli, Kanpur and Unnao.

Ghazipur senior superintendent of police, Dr Om Prakash Singh, said that in some of the regions locals still practiced the ritual of ‘jal pravah’ (water burial). “We have told them to do bhumi samadhi (cremation), and offered to provide Rs 5,000 to bereaved families who can’t afford wood, rubber, sandalwood, etc, for the funeral," said Singh.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath directed

gram pradhans

and village development officers in rural areas and corporators in urban areas to form committees to reach out to people residing close to rivers and sensitize them on the issue.

“Those who are losing lives deserve dignity in death and the government has allocated funds for their last rites. Bodies of those who die unattended or are not given a decent cremation should not be dumped in rivers. Their last rites must be performed according to their religious beliefs,” Yogi said.