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After Mass Grave Exposed Along Ganges River, Indian Police Burn Dead Bodies With Tyres and Petrol

© AP Photo / Rajesh Kumar SinghBodies of suspected Covid-19 victims are seen in shallow graves buried in the sand near a cremation ground on the banks of Ganges River in Prayagraj, India, Saturday, May 15, 2021
Bodies of suspected Covid-19 victims are seen in shallow graves buried in the sand near a cremation ground on the banks of Ganges River in Prayagraj, India, Saturday, May 15, 2021 - Sputnik International, 1920, 18.05.2021
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The Ganges is a sacred river to Hindus. For centuries, Hindus have preferred to cremate bodies along its banks and immerse the ashes in the water, believing that their loved ones will escape the cycle of rebirth and attain salvation. Last week, India woke up to see more than 2,000 bodies — either floating in the river or buried along its banks.

Weeks after a mass grave was exposed on the banks of the Ganges River and state governments ordered a proper funeral (as per Hindu customs) of these bodies, state police were seen burning corpses using fuel and tyres.

However, a video posted by a Twitter user appears to shows how police and authorities are disrespecting these dead bodies by burning them using petrol and tyres.

​Soon after the video went viral, the state police took cognisance of the matter and suspended five police officials involved in the case.

However, they are yet to confirm the number of dead bodies burned by officials in a similar manner.

Last week, horrific scenes emerged from the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh as thousands of bodies were found either floating in the Ganges River or buried along its banks. These bodies were suspected to be of patients who died of coronavirus.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also sent a detailed advisory to the federal Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the state governments and Union Territories.

The human rights commission said it was the duty of the states to "protect the rights of the deceased and crime over the dead body and prepare an SOP [standard operating procedure] in consultation with all stakeholders".

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