Police Say Sikh Funeral Pyre May Have Broken Cremation Laws

[Golee Maro]

Police say Sikh funeral pyre may have broken cremation laws

Thursday July 13, 2006 [The Guardian]

Police are investigating what is claimed to be the first British religious funeral pyre in modern times, because they believe the blaze many have broken cremation laws which prohibit the burning of human remains in the open air.

Yesterday's pyre in Stamfordham, Northumberland, was arranged after Rajpal Mehat, a 31-year-old Indian-born Sikh, drowned in a canal in Southall, west London, last December. His family asked Davender Ghai, president of the Newcastle-based Anglo-Asian Friendship Society, to help after authorities refused to allow his remains to be flown back to India.

Mr Ghai, who is a leading campaigner for funeral pyres to be held in Britain, claims that the 1930 Cremation Act does not forbid such ceremonies, and that the legislation is concerned only with the day-to-day running of crematoriums.

He said he had carried out the ceremony with the "blessing" of the Northumbria police, only to be told later that he had broken the law. "The police came down here and at first they stopped the cars," he said. "Then the officer said he had been in touch with the chief constable and said 'Yes, you can go ahead with the funeral pyre, according to your religion'." Mr Ghai added the family had not wanted Mr Mehat's soul to remain "restless" for so long after his death.

Northumbria police said last night that although they had allowed the ceremony to go ahead, they believed offences may have been committed.

"In respecting the values and beliefs of all faiths we did not wish to cause any additional upset to a grieving family," said Superintendent Graham Smith. "This meant all our inquiries were carried out in an extremely sensitive manner before the service got under way. Following further investigation, we believe offences may have been committed under the Cremation Act 1902 in relation to where human remains can legally be cremated."

A spokesman for the Department of Constitutional Affairs said: "The 1930 Cremation Act prohibits the cremation of human remains anywhere except in a crematorium."

Mr Ghai said: "We have got so many supporters, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Hindus."

[manjot]

Um, no offense to you lot out there, but why do Sikhs in the UK have so many problems? I'm from the UK, but it was never this bad. It's something new everyday. Will it ever end?

[Golee Maro]

we may have problems in the UK but we get em resolved...

[Guest PRITAM SINGH KHALSA]

I could see why they dont want open air pyres.

To some they will think somethings going on because it will smell like a BBQ. {It really does smell like a BBQ} Im not Joking this time, it really does

[manjot]

To some they will think somethings going on because it will smell like a BBQ. {It really does smell like a BBQ} Im not Joking this time, it really does

Didn't need to know that much.

[Guest PRITAM SINGH KHALSA]

To some they will think somethings going on because it will smell like a BBQ. {It really does smell like a BBQ} Im not Joking this time, it really does

Didn't need to know that much.

Well its true, and now you actually know that it really smells like cooking meat unless you throw enough wood and inscence in and on the pyre. Think of this next time you feel like having a BBQ and are going to eat meat. :| mmmmmmmm yummy :wub:

[4RR]

what the freak!!!!!

[GABROO KHALISTAN DAH]

wahts the need to use a pyre? How is it different then a creamtorium (SP).

[ParwinderSingh]

the problem here was that the relatives of the family got in touch with the gurudwara and asked them to perform the cremation and sukhmani sahib ji da path but whilst that paath was bein done, they family of the guy guy who died went and told a pandit from a hindu temple to perform the ceromony, so we had a few upset ppl saying whydidnt on religion or person perform the whole thing, why get hindus and sikhs involved, or why did they not tell the gurudwara the change of plans.

its no big deal, its good that we can do cremations like they do in punjab.........

[GABROO KHALISTAN DAH]

why would u want to do that kind of cremation? whats the difference?