Rights activists slam delay in releasing bodies of slain Maoists, call it ‘Dehumanising’
Hyderabad/Raipur: The Coordination Committee for Peace on Monday expressed grave concern over the continued withholding of the bodies of individuals killed in the May 21 anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh's Abujhmarh region. Families of the deceased, hailing from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, have reportedly been waiting for days to claim the remains of their loved ones, but without success.
In a strongly worded statement, the committee alleged that the delay constitutes a gross violation of constitutional, legal, and humanitarian obligations. Citing the assurance given by the Advocate General of Chhattisgarh before the Andhra Pradesh High Court on May 24 that post-mortems would be conducted and the bodies released, the committee accused the authorities of failing to honour their commitment.
The group also raised serious concerns about reports that the bodies have not been preserved in cold storage, leading to decomposition. It described the situation as a violation of medico-legal protocols and the right to dignity in death, adding that such treatment is “dehumanising and traumatic” for the grieving families.
Further controversy erupted when the Deputy Solicitor General, appearing for the Union of India in court, opposed handing over at least two bodies, citing possible "law and order" issues during funeral processions. The committee described this stance as "callous and constitutionally untenable," noting that the families had already assured the court of their willingness to comply with any conditions to ensure peaceful last rites.
"We find this obstruction to be not just an administrative lapse, but a deliberate affront to grief and human dignity," said the committee in its statement.
Reports have also surfaced of intimidation and harassment of family members, ambulance drivers, and volunteers who are helping in the process. The committee called such actions an “unconscionable abuse of state power.”
Quoting Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, the committee emphasized that the right to dignity extends even after death. The group referred to the landmark Supreme Court judgment in Pt. Parmanand Katara v. Union of India, which held that the right to life includes the right to a dignified treatment of the deceased.
The statement also highlighted India’s obligations under international humanitarian law, including:
- Article 130 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which mandates honourable burial of the dead according to their religious rites;
Article 16 of the First Geneva Convention, which requires protection of the deceased from mistreatment;
and the 2005 UN Human Rights Commission resolution, which affirms the need for dignified handling of mortal remains.
Domestically, the National Human Rights Commission’s 2020 advisory on the dignity of the dead was also cited, which sets clear standards for timely and respectful handling of bodies.
The Coordination Committee for Peace issued the following demands:
- Immediate release of all bodies to the respective families.
- Cessation of harassment of families, ambulance drivers, and support personnel.
- Full implementation of constitutional and international obligations regarding the dignity of the dead.
- Adherence to legal protocols for handling bodies in counterinsurgency operations.
“Every human being deserves dignity in death,” the statement read. “The continued detention of these bodies is not only legally questionable but morally reprehensible.”
The statement was endorsed by several prominent figures, including Prof. G. Haragopal, Prof. G. Laxman, Dr. M.F. Gopinath, Kavita Srivastava, Kranti Chaitanya, and Meena Kandasamy.
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Mumbai-Pune Expressway connecting link now fully operational
Mumbai (PTI): The Mumbai-bound carriageway of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway connecting link was opened to vehicular traffic on Saturday noon after a delay caused by the dismantling of inauguration infrastructure and cleaning work, a day after the Pune section became operational.
The 13.3 km-long "missing link", which bypasses a section of the Bhor Ghat stretch of the expressway and cuts travel time between Mumbai and Pune by 25 to 30 minutes, was inaugurated a day earlier by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the presence of Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar.
The Pune-bound carriageway of the corridor was opened to traffic immediately; however, the Mumbai-bound section remained closed to traffic for several hours after the inauguration.
An official of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation told PTI on Saturday that the opening of the Mumbai-bound carriageway was delayed mainly due to the dismantling of the inauguration infrastructure and cleaning work.
The removal of the stage and other decorations was completed in the morning. The work to load and transport the material slightly delayed the opening of the carriageway.
Vehicular movement on the carriageway began after all the remaining material was cleared and road cleaning was completed, the official added.
The expressway control room said that despite significant vehicular movement, the access-controlled highway has not witnessed any major traffic snarls since Friday evening, after the Pune-bound carriageway of the missing link was opened to traffic.
The Missing Link project connects Khopoli (in Raigad) on the Mumbai side to Kusgaon near Lonavala in Pune district and is expected to make the expressway fully access-controlled, easing congestion in the ghat section.
Developed by the MSRDC and dubbed an "engineering marvel", the project includes two tunnels, two viaducts and a cable-stayed bridge over Tiger Valley. It bypasses the steep, accident-prone ghat section, where frequent traffic snarls are reported during weekends and on public holidays.
