Authorities pronounce 28-yr-old youth as dead

Varanasi, May 7 : The Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN) has certified a 28-year-old youth living in the United States as dead.

Dr Sandhya Singh Kaushik, senior reader at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), had applied for birth certificate of her nephew Anurag Singh -- a bio-tech researcher in the US, who required it for compliance of 'green card' formalities.

On April 29, the VNN birth and death registration office issued two certificates in Hindi and English.

While the Hindi birth certificate mispelt Anurag as Anuroop, the office issued a death certificate in English, also in the name of Anuroop.

As per the certificate, instead of being born in 1978, 'Anuroop' died the same year.

When the BHU reader brought the matter to VNN higher-ups, she was asked to wait for correction.

Queried by mediapersons, certificate issuing officer Rishikant admitted that a mistake had been committed, but he attributed it to computer error and not human fault.

He gave an assurance correct certificates would be issued soon.

UNI