A dispute broke out in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur after a family cremated its pet dog at a local Mukti Dham, a cremation ground traditionally used for human last rites. Local residents and Hindu organisations objected to the cremation, while the family said the dog was like a member of their household.

The incident took place in the Torwa police station area. Police reached the spot after a complaint was submitted by the local councillor and spoke to both sides to prevent the situation from escalating.

Family Says Dog Was Like a Member

The pet dog belonged to a family living in the Kududand area. After the animal died, the family decided to give it a final farewell at the Torwa Mukti Dham.

The family claimed that they had obtained permission and performed the cremation according to Hindu rituals. They said the dog had been an important part of their family for years and that they wanted to perform its last rites with dignity.

The family also maintained that there was no intention to hurt anyone's religious sentiments.

Locals Object to Cremation

The cremation, however, did not go down well with several local residents and Hindu organisations.

They argued that the Mukti Dham is a designated and sacred place for human cremations and that conducting the last rites of an animal there goes against established traditions and local sentiments.

Residents gathered at the cremation ground after learning about the incident, leading to a confrontation over the use of the facility.

Councillor Files Police Complaint

Ward 41 councillor Moti Gangwani submitted a written complaint to the police, seeking action over the incident.

According to the councillor, an animal was cremated at a facility meant for human last rites, which he described as contrary to religious traditions and public sentiment.

The Mukti Dham reportedly falls under the jurisdiction of the railway authorities, although the municipal corporation has appointed a caretaker at the site.

Caretaker Accused of Taking ₹2,000

Local residents have also alleged that the caretaker accepted ₹2,000 from the family and allowed the dog to be cremated at the Mukti Dham.

They claimed that no permission had been obtained from the municipal corporation for conducting the cremation.

The allegations have added another dimension to the dispute, with residents demanding that the circumstances under which permission was granted be examined.

Family Denies Any Wrong Intention

The dog's owner said the family was deeply affected by the animal's death because they considered it a member of their household.

According to the family, the decision to perform the cremation was based on their emotional attachment to the pet. They said they wanted to bid farewell to the dog respectfully and had no intention of offending anyone's religious beliefs.

Police Say No Action Taken

Additional SP City Pankaj Patel said the family had taken the deceased pet to the Mukti Dham because of their emotional attachment to it and performed the cremation there.

He said that after residents and local organisations learned about the incident, they reached the spot and raised objections.

According to Patel, the matter did not currently require police intervention and no action had been taken.

An attempt was also made to contact Torwa police station in-charge Rajnish Singh for further details, but he was unavailable for comment.

Dispute Settled After Intervention

Police personnel reached the spot after the controversy was reported and spoke to both sides. The situation was subsequently brought under control.

The incident has nevertheless triggered a debate in the area over the use of public cremation facilities for animals and the balance between people's emotional attachment to pets and established religious and social practices.