West Bengal: Muslim neighbours help Hindu family carry body to crematorium

Tehatta: A Hindu family at a remote village in West Bengal's Nadia district had no money to take the body of their father to the crematorium for the last rites but their Muslim neighbours came to their help.

Akali Sardar (80) of Palashipara Dhawapara village near Tehatta in Nadia district had died yesterday. His family had no money to take the body to the burning ghat about 26 km away.

Around 210 families reside in Palashipara Dhawapara village, the majority of them Muslims.

When the villagers heard the Sardar family's problem, an announcement was made over the loud speaker asking the people to help them.

The Muslims neighbours of Sardar family rushed to help them. They handed over money his two sons Khakon and Swapan and to his wife Shanti.

No only that they carried the body to the burning ghat and waited till all the rituals were completed.

A local Golam Hossain Seikh said, "Akali and I had grown up together. The family was in great distress due to lack of money. They were unable to take the body to burning ghat. We helped them. Being neighbour, if we don't stretch our hand, who will do?"

Khakon, son of Akali said, "We had no money to take our father's body to the burning ghat. But our Muslim neighbours helped us to take the body to burning ghat at Kaliganj Ramnagar in Nadia, about 26 km away."

Shanti, wife to Akali also expressed her gratitude to her Muslim neighbours. She said, "our Muslim neighbours rescued us from our problem. We will never forget the help."

Hearing the matter, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Tehatta 2, Abhijit Chowdhury, congratulated the villagers for helping the family of Akali Sardar.

The BDO said, "The Muslims of the area have established an instance of communal harmony."