AIDS victim faces discrimination at pyre

Darbhanga, Bihar, Mar 31 (UNI) Surendra Kumar had to suffer the ignominy of being an ''AIDS patient'' not only during his lifetime but also when he was at the pyre, which was lit by his wife, supposedly all alone. at Khaira village in Darbhanga district.

Surendra worked in Mumbai and had contracted the disease there.

When he fell sick, he returned to his village but his condition gradually deteriorated, leading to his death on March 27.

Meanwhile, district magistrate of Darbhanga Upendra Sharma said here today that only select people of the village had attended his cremation rituals few days ago. He admitted that the wife of the deceased had lit the pyre. But refused to accept that she was the only person present during the cremation.

Mr Sharma said a probe had been ordered to inquire into whether the deceased died of AIDS. He said the victim was cremated at the backyard of his house itself.

Surendra was once a rich man, but later became an economically challenged person after he allegedly contracted the disease and lost his job in Mumbai. Even his friends, who used to enjoy his hospitality, did not participate in the cremation rituals.

UNI XC DH SP PR PC2147