Woman’s body hidden in drum, buried after 2 weeks

Madurai: Madurai district police are investigating the incident in which an octogenarian's body was hidden in a drum in Melur. Veerammal, 80, of Mangalampatti, died on April 23 after being bedridden for five months. She was taken care of by her granddaughter Amsavalli.After the death, instead of conducting last rites for her grandmother, Amsavalli kept the body inside a drum in the house and left for her native place. When foul smell emanated from the body, she thought of burying it. On Wednesday, with the help of her brother-in-law, she buried the decomposed body of Veerammal behind her house.Based on complaints from neighbours that a bad odour was emanating from the house, Kottampatti police arrived at the place and recovered the body. A case was registered by Kottampatti police on the complaint of the village administrative officer seeking action for improper handling and burial of the deceased. A senior police official said Amsavalli told them she placed the body inside a plastic drum as she didn't know what else to do. "We have requested doctors to conduct an assessment to find out whether she is suffering from a mental health condition," he said.