Hyderabad, India:
Police intervened after the body of a 45-year-old woman was kept inside an apartment in the Kukatpally area of Telangana for four days without last rites being performed, officials said on Monday.
The incident occurred at Sri Sai Bharadwaj Apartments in Ramakrishna Nagar, Kukatpally. The deceased, identified as Shailaja, reportedly died due to illness on Friday, February 13.
According to police sources, neighbors alerted authorities after a foul odor began emanating from the flat. Residents alleged that the woman’s family had kept the body inside the apartment and had not conducted funeral rites.
Sources said the family had allegedly arranged a refrigerator to preserve the body. When questioned by neighbors, family members reportedly responded that they were praying and would conduct the funeral at their own discretion. The situation escalated into an argument, during which the family allegedly became aggressive.
When police arrived on Monday, February 16, the occupants initially refused to open the door and argued with officers, insisting they would act according to their personal beliefs.
The matter was brought under control after police warned that if the funeral was not conducted, the body would be handed over to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), which would carry out the last rites as per standard procedure.
Following police intervention, the body was shifted to the woman’s native place for the funeral.
Neighbors told police that the deceased had mental health issues and claimed the family lived in isolation, rarely interacting with others in the apartment complex.
Police said further investigation is ongoing.
According to local residents and Kukatpally police, the Yesuratnam family originally hails from Eluru in Andhra Pradesh and has been living in Hyderabad for nearly 40 years. The family patriarch, Yesuratnam, a former Assistant Sub-Inspector, passed away a decade ago.
At present, the family includes his wife Shamantakamani, daughters Sunitha and Shailaja, and son Jayaraj.