5 Hindu Cremation of a UK Illegal Immigrant Rajpal Mehat

An open-air cremation of a young Sikh man has been held at a secret location in Northumberland sparking a legal row.The funeral pyre of Rajpal Mehat, 31, took place in a remote field on Wednesday after Northumbria Police gave permission on "humanitarian grounds".
But the Department for Constitutional Affairs said the ceremony was "unlawful" and police later admitted the service "may" have been illegal.
Open-air funeral pyres have been illegal in the UK since 1930.
Mr Mehat, an Indian-born Sikh, drowned in a canal in Southall, west London, last December and police took months to identify him because he did not have any papers on him.

'Grieving family'
They eventually found the telephone number of Davender Ghai, president of the Newcastle-based charity Anglo-Asian Friendship Society, on the dead man's mobile phone and contacted him for help.
Mr Ghai helped tracked down the dead man's family in India.
He also hired a site for the pyre from an apparently unwitting landowner in Stamfordham, Northumberland, and Mr Mehat's family flew over for Wednesday's ceremony.
Before the service Northumbria Police spoke to Mr Mehat's relatives and said they were satisfied the death was not suspicious and that the organisers had complied with legal requirements.

'Sensitive inquiries'
Superintendent Graham Smith said: "In respecting the values and beliefs of all faiths we did not wish to cause any additional upset to a grieving family.
"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 in relation to where human remains can legally be cremated.
"We are now discussing the matter further with the community, our partners and the local authorities."
A spokesman for the Department of Constitutional Affairs said: "The plain fact is that any funeral pyre is illegal and to burn human remains in the open air is against the law.
"The 1930 Cremation Act prohibits the cremation of human remains anywhere except in a crematorium."
In January 2008 the Anglo-Asian Friendship Society submitted an application to Newcastle Council requesting land for cremations.

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• corpse
• cremation
• pollution
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[fenriz218]

I didn't realize that in the UK you're allowed to burn corpses on the roadside like rubbish!

Next thing, you'll have Zoroastrians who demand that their bodies be eaten by vultures, which will nest on top of Big Ben ...

[shrh18]

you managed to turn a video on hindu cremations into a rant on islam congratulations.

[khi195]

@fenriz218 LOL

[MrTonymcmahon]

Sikhs aren't muslims - in answer to the man who says he's "always accused of being a Nazi". And for his information - though I don't know why I'm bothering to type this - muslims and Sikhs died for the empire in WWI and WWII. Pakistan and India were part of the Raj. In fact the most pro-German movement in India was led by Mihir Bhose who was Hindu. Anyway, I know you're not going to let the facts get in the way of your prejudices.

[mondini48]

@jy768 My parents were cremated in electric crematoriam in Calcutta,India 30 years before.I think that is better for the environment and the family.Wood burning is crude.

[gsm73]

we dont want to inhale your ashes please the is a huge developmental difference btn indian and uk so dont tell what we want the law of the land should be followed u dont want pack up and go back to uganda

[slazzer145]

is open air cremations allowed in UK ..one said the cremation smells bacon..

[saintantigen]

Just wish every thing goes well for humanity, what a life!

[bondsee]

jiggy jiggy up de arse indian no want pakistan in bed

[2Roo7ted]

Religion is the problem, immigrant comes to our shores for no other reason than we offer them a better life then they could get back home. They bring their religion with them, it is their religion that stops the people from similating. Their religion are like all religions, out to convert and grow, ensuring the nation spirit will forever be divided and no peace, spiritual leaders have power. We're bending over backwards, for the perfect life they dreamed of having back home.