Chennai: Even as a doctors association urged the government to cremate the bodies of physicians who died in their fight against coronavirus with State honours, the police today arrested 20 persons for trying to disrupt the last rites of a doctor who died of Covid-19.
According to Tamilnadu Government Doctors Association president Dr Senthil, “it is inhumane to stop the last rites of those who served for the public. The bodies of doctors should be cremated with government honour”.
The last rites and funeral of a doctor, who died due to coronavirus, were performed amid resistance from local residents who blocked the ambulance carrying his body and stopped the sanitary workers at Anna Nagar.
The neighbours fearing Covid-19 pandemic refused to allow the body inside the locality for performing final rites. Police intervened and allowed the funeral to take place. Police protection was provided during funeral.
The 55-year-old neurosurgeon was admitted to a private hospital two weeks ago after he was tested positive for Coronavirus. A well-known doctor, he was the head of a private hospital in Chetpet. Last week, people opposed to the cremation of another Covid-19 hit doctor’s body at Ambattur, it may be recalled.