Woman's body found near husband's pyre, cops refute 'sati' rumours

A 50-year-old woman’s body was found near her husband’s pyre at Lohata village in Latur district of Maharashtra on Tuesday. The incident sparked rumours of the woman having committed ‘sati- a ritual banned in India. But local police officials refuted the rumours.

A 50-year-old woman’s body was found from her husband’s pyre at Lohata village in Latur district of Maharashtra on Tuesday.

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The incident sparked rumours of the woman having committed ‘sati- a ritual banned in India.

But local police officials including Sanjeev Dayal, director general of police (Maharashtra), refuted the rumours.

“It is not a case of ‘sati’. It is simply a case of burning,” said Dayal.

According to Killari police station, the woman’s husband Tukaram Mane, 55, died because of a heart attack. He was cremated on Sunday at 5 pm.

The woman, identified as Usha, had attended her husband’s funeral, and had gone back home and slept. On Tuesday, the woman’s half burnt body was found at exactly the same spot where her husband was cremated.

Senior police inspector Vishwajit Ghodke of Killari police station told HT that it was not a case of 'Sati'.

“Local media channels have given false information. In fact, relatives of the deceased have asked local media not to spread rumours.”