Pampore Martyr Denied Last Rites by Upper Caste Villagers

The members of the upper caste halted the funeral of the martyr as it was being performed on ‘public land’.

Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti lays wreath at the coffins of CRPF martyrs. (Photo: IANS)

While the death of the CRPF jawans in the Pampore attack on Saturday is mourned by the country, in a village in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, a constable was denied a dignified funeral.

The reason is simply that the constable, Vir Singh, was of a lower caste, reported The Times of India. The upper castes of the village did not allow Singh’s family to use public land to perform his last rites.

Once the district officials intervened, the members of the upper caste gave in, by granting Singh only 10 by 10 metres, even in death.

According to the report, Singh was the sole source of income for his family. He’s survived by his three children, who lived in a 500 square foot room, with a tin shed for a roof, the report said.

His father, Ramsneh, a riskshaw puller told TOI: “My son gave up his life to protect the land of our country, but over here our own people have objections to give a 10 by 10 square metre land for his cremation. I don’t know, who will now take care of his children.”

The issue was raised by the upper caste members of his village when his family wanted to raise a statue in his honour.

The Zila Panchayat President Vijay Pratap Yadav has now announced the construction of a grand stone gateway at the entrance of village, in memory of the soldier, the report said.