ITANAGAR, 18 May: The North East Human Rights (NEHR) has urged the authorities concerned to make the electric crematorium at Hollongi/Chimpu functional immediately for dignified cremation, especially for unclaimed bodies and infants.

The appeal was made after a recent video of social activist Ramesh Jeke, in which he was seen holding a body of an infant at the cremation-cum-burial ground. In the video, he stated that the facility remains locked and unused despite repeated pleas, the NEHR said.

“An electric crematorium has been established at the ground but remains non-functional and is kept locked by the authorities.

“There is no proper facility or shelter to keep bodies while preparing for traditional burial or cremation. Bodies are forced to remain in the open, causing immense hardship, especially during hot summer days and heavy rainfall,” the NEHR said, quoting Jeke in a joint representation to Urban Development Minister Balo Raja, Itanagar MLA Techi Kaso, ICR DC Toko Babu and Mayor Likha Nari Tadar on Monday.

Jeke, who runs an NGO, has been cremating unclaimed and abandoned bodies for many years.

In the representation, the NEHR stated that the existing guidelines and rules of the public cremation ground clearly mandate that the premises is kept clean on a daily basis by authorised staff, and that any installed electric or gas crematorium facility must be made fully functional for public use.

The human rights organisation further urged the minister, the MLA, the DC and the mayor to provide a proper mortuary/waiting shelter for keeping bodies and to ensure regular cleaning and maintenance of the cremation ground as per the prescribed guidelines.