A tragic incident in Hisar has laid bare the harsh realities of social stigma, as the families of a deceased woman have refused to accept her body for last rites, a day after she and her live-in partner died by suicide in Sirsa.
Families Distance Themselves in Tragedy
The deceased have been identified as Somnath (34) and Saroj (34). The couple allegedly consumed poison on Wednesday. While Somnath's family performed his last rites after the post-mortem, a starkly different scene unfolded for Saroj. Her body remained in the mortuary of Agroha Medical College a full day later, as both her parental family and her in-laws refused to accept it.
Sources indicate that both families completely distanced themselves from the woman and declined to comment on the incident. In a heart-wrenching detail, Saroj's three children, who live with their grandparents, were not even informed about their mother's death. Members of her family allegedly claimed that she had brought "shame" upon them and they no longer wished to maintain any association with her.
A Relationship Forged in Secrecy
Investigations reveal that Somnath and Saroj had been in a live-in relationship for approximately three years. Saroj had married another man in 2013. Somnath, who was unmarried, was a frequent visitor to her marital home, where the two reportedly developed a relationship. When their families discovered the matter, the couple left their homes and began living together.
Somnath worked as a labourer. Police said preliminary investigations suggest the couple was under severe emotional stress, primarily due to the social stigma and fear of public humiliation attached to their relationship. They allegedly lacked any family support and were also unable to meet Saroj's children, which further aggravated their distress.
Police Await Consent for Final Rites
With no family member coming forward, the police are now left in a difficult position. They are awaiting formal consent to carry out the last rites of Saroj's body. This case highlights a grim consequence of deep-seated societal prejudices, where even death does not absolve individuals from judgment, leaving authorities to handle the final farewell.
The incident underscores the intense pressure and isolation faced by individuals in relationships that challenge conservative social norms, sometimes with the most tragic outcomes.
