Sikh Funeral Pyre In Britain May Have Violated Law

In Northumberland yesterday, Rajpal Mehat, an Indian-born Sikh who drowned several months ago in London, was cremated on the first religious funeral pyre in Britain in modern times. The Guardian reports that police are now investigating the funeral, claiming that the ceremony may have violated the Cremation Act that they say prohibits the cremation of human remains anywhere except in a crematorium. Northumbria police reluctantly permitted the ceremony to proceed, not wanting at the time to further upset a grieving family. Davender Ghai, president of the Anglo-Asian Friendship Society says that the Cremation Law does not forbid religious funeral pyres. (Backgound on Sikh funerals.)