Shillong, Apr 20: The Jhalupara Village Council on Monday categorically denied opposing the cremation of the first COVID-19 victim and said it has only raised concerns over the preparedness of the crematorium to deal with the situation.

“It is clarified and stated that the residents had never opposed cremation of any individual including cremation of late Dr Sailo at the electric crematorium at Jhalupara on April 15 and had only raised its concerns with regard to preparedness of the crematorium so as to deal with cremation of COVID-19 victims as the same lacked basic infrastructure at the relevant point of time and in that context, they feared spread of virus owing to the same,” Jhalupara headman Prakash Bhandari said in a statement issued here.

He said that misinformation regarding the incident has spread all across social media and other platforms adding “(This) has no connection with the true account of actual happening on the ground.”

Bhandari said the residents also expressed heartfelt regret in case the incident has hurt the sentiments of any individual community or sections especially the bereaved family members of late Dr Sailo.

“May God bless the family members with fortitude to overcome this personal loss and the residents pray for eternal peace of the departed soul and early recovery of all patients who has tested positive of the virus,” he said.

It may be mentioned that late Dr John L Sailo Ryntathiang, the first COVID-19 patient passed away on April 15 and he was laid to rest at the Riatsamthiah Presbyterian Church cemetery at Lawmali on April 16.