Corona fears death, family refuses to take body

In Bangalore, Karnataka, India, three policemen perform the last rites of a mentally handicapped man, expressing extraordinary emotions. The deceased's family had refused to perform his last rites, saying he could be infected with the corona virus.
According to India's news channel NDTV, the 44-year-old disabled man was trampled by an elephant in Chamarajangar district near Mysore four days ago. Animal deaths from animal attacks are common in the area.

After the postmortem of the deceased, his family in the village refused to receive his body.
Karnataka police personnel dug a grave in Chamarajangar themselves after the family refused to retrieve the body.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Made Gowda and two other policemen ensured that the deceased was properly buried. He also performed the last rites at the Hindu crematorium in Chamarajangar. No religious leader was present on the occasion.
It was Inspector Made Gowda who mapped the grave at the crematorium and arranged for a white cloth to cover the body. The inspector, with the help of two other officers, buried the body in the grave.

The picture shows Inspector Made Gowda holding a candle in his hand and praying for the deceased.
"The deceased was mentally handicapped," said Sunil, a police officer in charge of the Chamarajangar East police station.