Government urged to hold discussions with committees of other religions & beliefs
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The coordination committee of several city burial grounds (kabarsthan) belonging to the Muslim community have decided to allow the last rites of COVID-19-affected bodies to be performed in their respective burial grounds across Guwahati. The last rites will be performed following the appropriate religious rituals. The committees have further urged the 'kabarsthan' authorities across the State to also do the same. Moreover, the city kabarsthan coordination committee has appealed to the government for having discussions with the managing committees of other religions and beliefs on the matter of giving decent farewell to the bodies of people who succumb to corona.
Informing this to the media here on Saturday, the chief convenor of the coordination commitee and also president of the Sarania Kabarstan Committee, Ulubari, Nekibur Zaman added, "The decisions have been taken against the backdrop of the still raging debate over the disposal of bodies identified with coronavirus, and the consequent problems being faced by the kin of these deceased people."
Zaman further said, "Today, the managing committees of eight kabarsthans of this city took the decision to offer decent last rites to the mortal remains of patients who succumb to COVID-19. The last rites will be done following appropriate religious rituals.
"The Islamic muftis or philosophers have laid down detailed rules on how to perform the 'janaja' or last rites and also the 'kabar' or burials of people who die due to pandemic."
He added, "If the government hands over such bodies to us legally, and supplies the items required for such rituals, we're ready to perform the last rites. If the government allows, we don't have qualms to allow the family members of such persons to have the last view of their deceased; but they too will have to wear PPE kits."
"The managing committees of the other smaller kabarstans across the city can also approach us for performing such last rites. If anybody faces problems in taking such deceased persons to their home districts, they will also be able to approach us to perform the last rites and burial here in the city.
The Saturday meeting was attended by the representatives of eight kabarsthan committees including those from Sarania, Hatigaon-Sijubari, Garigaon, Daranda, and Athgaon among others. A coordination committee named 'Brihattar Guwahati Kabarsthan Committee' was also constituted during the meeting.
In Guwahati, there are about 30 kabarsthans — including small and large ones.