AP villagers oppose cremation of COVID-19 victim, clash with police

Villagers in Guntur district clashed with the police after things got heated when some locals opposed the cremation of a COVID-19 victim in their area.

Guntur (Andhra Pradesh): In yet another case of locals opposing the cremation of a COVID-19 victim, villagers in Guntur district clashed with the police and blocked an ambulance carrying the body of a deceased woman on Friday.

According to reports, the woman who hailed from the Nakrikal mandal, died due to coronavirus at the NRI hospital. Her body was then brought in an ambulance to the crematory at Sthambala Cheruvu.

However, fearing that this would lead to the spread of COVID-19 in their surroundings, villagers blocked the ambulance and even pelted stones on it. The damaged ambulance was then forced to leave.

Later in the evening, the ambulance returned with the police, but the locals did not budge. Things got heated as the cops tried to reason with the villagers and convince them to allow the cremation, eventually leading to a clash between the policemen and the villagers.

Eventually, the police managed to get the body cremated.

Meanwhile, the police said that cases have been registered against those who damaged the ambulance.

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