Dalit Family Performs Last Rites on Roadside Intersection Due to No Access to Cremation Ground

Published on: 30 Jan 2026 at 06:28 PM

Published by: Gill Bikram

Dalit Family Performs Last Rites on Roadside Intersection Due to No Access to Cremation Ground

A shocking incident from Bihar’s Vaishali district has raised serious questions about social justice and administrative arrangements. In Sodho Mubarakpur under Garhaul police station area, a Mahadalit family was denied access to the cremation ground for the last rites of their 91-year-old elderly woman, Jhumpki Devi. As a result, the grieving family was forced to cremate the body right at a roadside intersection.

Road Blocked by Encroachments
The deceased’s son, Sandeep Manjhi, and other family members allege that the public road leading to the cremation ground has been illegally encroached upon by local shopkeepers. When the family arrived with the body, they were stopped from proceeding further. Despite prolonged arguments and pleas, with no resolution in sight, the distraught family, in a fit of anger, prepared the pyre right in the middle of the road. Shockingly, although police arrived at the scene, they remained mere silent spectators without taking any action.

Administrative Action and Probe
The viral photos of the pyre burning in the middle of the road have caused a stir in the administration. Vaishali District Magistrate (DM) Varsha Singh, taking the matter seriously, has formed a high-level investigation committee. The committee includes the SDO of Mahua, DSP, and the BDO of Garhaul. The administration has assured that strict action will be taken against those who encroached on the road and officials guilty of negligence in duty.

Social and Political Reactions
Local residents and public representatives have strongly condemned the incident. Ruby Devi, a local representative, described it as a deeply tragic event and said all parties must come together to find a permanent solution so no other family faces such humiliation in the future. The episode highlights how encroachments and administrative laxity robbed a family of the right to bid a dignified farewell to their elderly loved one.