Farmer’s body draped in Tricolour at funeral in Mandsaur

INDORE: The Tricolour was draped on

Ghanshyam Dhakad

, the farmer who died allegedly in police custody, when the final rites were performed at Barvan village of

Mandsaur district

on Saturday.

Kin of Dhakad, who have been demanding martyrdom status for him, covered his body with the national flag, violating the code right in front of a large contingent of police and administrative officials.

It could not be ascertained if his pyre was burnt with the tricolour.

"If the tricolour was used it was a violation of national flag code. When I was there (Barvan), the body was covered in blankets," Mandsaur District collector OP Shrivastava told TOI.

He claimed that he was not present at the cremation.

Photographs of Dhakad's body covered in tricolour was circulated on WhatsApp by farmers contradicting administration's claim.

Similar photographs of four of the five farmers killed in Pipliamandi police firing were also viral in social media.

Shrivastava claimed that the matter will be examined.

Farmers and Congress leaders had been demanding status of 'martyrs' for the deceased in police action.

Former Congress MP Meenakshi Natarajan had issued a statement seeking the same from the government on Friday.

Shrivastava said he was not aware about what happened during cremation of other victims as he has just taken over as collector. But the matter would be looked into.

"At no time could be the national flag be allowed to be disgraced," he added.

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