Hyderabad: Coordination Committee For Peace on Monday appealed to the Chhattisgarh government to honour its commitment made before the High Court and immediately release the bodies of Maoists from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh killed in an encounter to prevent further deterioration and allow families to bid farewell to their departed with dignity.
In a statement, the committee expressed grave concern over the continued withholding of bodies of deceased from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana following the operation conducted on May 21 2025 in Chhattisgarh’s Abujhmarh region.
Despite assurances given by the Advocate General of Chhattisgarh before the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on May 24 that bodies would be handed over to families after an autopsy, nothing concrete has been done. The prolonged delay was causing immense anguish to bereaved families who have travelled long distances to claim the bodies of their loved ones, said committee members Prof G. Haargopal and Prof G. Laxman.
They said that even more alarming were the emerging allegations that the bodies have not been preserved in cold storage and have been left exposed to decay – despite the clear legal and ethical obligation to preserve mortal remains with dignity.
Such treatment amounts to a gross violation of medico-legal protocols, dehumanisation of the deceased, and the infliction of further psychological trauma upon grieving families.
“We are particularly disturbed that during court proceedings, the Deputy Solicitor General who appeared for the Central government – opposed handing over at least two bodies, citing a potential law and order issue arising from funeral processions. This justification, which effectively criminalises mourning, is both callous and constitutionally untenable,” they said.
The families, through senior counsel, had already assured the court their willingness to abide by any conditions to ensure a peaceful farewell. Even then the bodies have been withheld. Such obstruction reflects contempt for both human grief and fundamental rights. “We are also alarmed by reports that family members, ambulance drivers, and others assisting in this humanitarian process are facing intimidation and obstruction by the authorities,” the committee member said.
This represents an unconscionable abuse of state power, deepening the trauma of the bereaved. This delay and desecration is not merely an administrative lapse and it constitutes a blatant violation of constitutional and legal obligations.
Domestically, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in its 2020 advisory on the dignity of the dead, issued 11 clear directives for humane handling of the deceased – including time-bound cremation or burial, proper preservation, and respectful transportation.
Since the ongoing failure by state authorities to meet these standards violates every such principle, the committee demanded immediate release of all bodies to their respective families without further delay in addition to cessation of all forms of harassment directed at family members, ambulance drivers, and support personnel.
The committee has demanded full implementation of constitutional, judicial, and international obligations relating to the dignity of the dead and adherence to legal protocols for handling the bodies of those killed in counterinsurgency operations, in accordance with domestic and international law.
“Every human being deserves dignity in death. The continued detention of these bodies is not only legally questionable but morally reprehensible,” the committee added.
