Udupi: In a major lapse by the Udupi COVID-19 hospital, the mortal remains of a patient was handed over to a different family. The incident triggered tension at the Kundapur cremation ground when the family discovered that they were handed over a youngster’s body instead of their 60-year-old family member.

A 60-year-old man from Niramballi near Koteshwar got admitted for treatment of back pain at the Hospital in Kundapur. He later tested positive for Coronavirus on July 30. However, the man died this morning failing to respond to the treatment at the hospital.

The hospital telephoned the son of the deceased about his father's death and informed of doing his funeral. As the family members demanded to perform last rites on their own, the body was packed and then taken to Kundapur cremation ground.

The family of the deceased also urged to see a glimpse of the corpse, five members were allowed to perform final rites wearing PPE kits.

While carrying out the funeral rites the lapse by the hospital came to the light when the packing of the corpse was opened, wherein the mortal remain of a different person was found.

Family members of the deceased and locals protested at the cemetery against the irresponsibility of the hospital and expressed outrage against the authorities.

Later by noon, the elderly man's body was brought to the cemetery and funeral rites were performed.

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Udupi: Two men from Belthangady have been sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Udupi for attempting to murder a woman in Manchikumeri in 2022.

The sentenced men, Mithun and Nagesh Poojary, are learned to have attempted to murder Sumathi, wife of Ramanath Rai, a resident of Manchikumeri, who had a Nandini Milk Parlour at Tiger Circle, Manipal.

On February 18, 2022, Sumathi was reportedly alone at home when, at around 7 pm, Mithun, learned to be her nephew, and his friend Poojary came to the house. As Sumathi opened the door, the duo barged in and tried to strangulate her with an intention of murdering her. Sumathi reportedly lost consciousness under the attack.

The men packed her body in a sack and were then putting the sack into a suitcase to carry the body out, when they noticed that Rai and neighbours had arrived. They are learned to have opened the door when Rai knocked the door and then tried to escape. They were, however, caught by the neighbours and handed over to the police.

Further, Sumathi was found by the group in an unconscious state inside the suitcase in the house. She was rushed to the Manipal Hospital and learned to have recovered after a week of medical treatment.

A case had been registered at the Manipal Police Station.

The Udupi Principal District and Sessions Court judge Kiran S Gangannavar, who heard the case, has declared both Mithun and Poojary guilty in the case. He has awarded them life imprisonment, fined them Rs 20,000 each and, under Column 325, sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment of 5 years and fined them Rs 5,000 each.

Judge Gangannavar has directed that, of the fine, Rs 45,000 be handed to the attack victim Sumathi as relief.

Jayarama Shetty represented the government as Public Prosecutor.