Much to the shock of family members and relatives, a 22 years old youth, Akash Sarkar, presumed to be dead showed up three days after being ‘cremated’ by his father Ankan Sarkar.
The incident was reported on Tuesday from Kolkalia under Bamutia in the West Tripura district.
The father of the supposedly dead youth was performing ‘Shradda’ when the youth returned home.
Akash Sarkar of the Bamutia – a known drug addict – went missing a few days ago. He often, under the influence of drugs, disappeared – and a missing complaint was filed at Bamutia Police station.
Meantime, Police from Battala Outpost recovered the body of an unidentified person from the Melarmath pond near the CPM office in Agartala on June 3 last. The unidentified body was kept at the GB Hospital morgue and no one claimed the body.
In a shocking turn of events, Police contacted Ankan Sarkar and told Ankan Sarkar that his son’s body had been kept in the GB Hospital morgue. Soon, the father along with other family members reached GB Hospital Morgue.
According to Ankan Sarkar, after seeing the body, he denied that the body was of his son – however, coming under alleged pressure from Police, he relented and agreed to accept the body.
“I noticed that body was much bulkier compared to my son and the clothes on the body was also not matching. After a serious hardship, I managed to collect money required to cremate and perform the last rites”, Ankan Sarkar said.
As per the Hindu tradition, the body was cremated and Ankan Sarkar was performing Shraddha on Tuesday – the third day after Akash’s supposed death.
“As the rituals of Shraddha started, Akash appeared much to the shock of family members”, neighbours of Ankan Sarkar said and added the grief-stricken family members and well-wishers burst into joy after seeing Akash back.
Overcoming the initial waves of shock and joy, family members raised fingers at the Police.
Speaking to the media, the ‘dead’ man Akash said, he used to collect money from people telling them that he needed money for treatment – however, with the money, Akash was buying drugs and was staying near Battala bridge area in Agartala.