Bhubaneswar, Feb. 17 -- In a disturbing incident reflecting deep-rooted social stigma, elderly parents in Odisha's Bolangir district refused to accept the body of their deceased son, allegedly fearing social boycott by members of their caste community. The last rites were later performed by volunteers on Monday.

The incident was reported from Jarasingha village under Deogaon police limits in Bolangir district.

The severed body of Bhagabat, son of Fazal Bag, was recovered from a railway track. After conducting a post-mortem examination, the Government Railway Police (GRP) informed the family and asked them to take custody of the body for the final rites.

However, despite being notified, the deceased's father declined to receive the body...