Date:02/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/02/stories/2007070253320300.htm

Kerala - Kollam

Religious issues mar funeral

Staff Reporter

The family was killed in accident

KOLLAM: Joseph Lawrance (27) and his wife Sunitha (25) who, along with their two daughters, were killed in a car accident in Alappuzha on Saturday night were a couple who fell in love and got married facing stiff resistance from their families.

They hailed from two different communities. Though they lived and died together, religious issues prevented them from being laid to rest together. While Joseph and his two daughters, Sanchana (3) and Swaya (eight months) were laid to rest at the cemetery of the Bharatha Rajni Catholic Church, Sunitha was laid to rest at the ‘kabarsthan’ of the Kilkolloor mosque.

Relatives of Joseph and Sunitha were not averse to both being laid to rest together. But a Jam-ath head was adamant that Sunitha be laid to rest at the ‘kabarsthan.’

The development drew protests from a many people who arrived at Joseph’s house to attend the funeral.