Patna: The cremation of a Muslim man killed in a road accident by Bihar police officials who called the body "unclaimed" has triggered protests and a public outcry in Gaya.

Some police officials have been suspended after the matter came to light, while the deceased person’s family is demanding justice.

Mohammad Shahabuddin, 32, a resident of Karimganj, was killed in a road accident at a place under Paraiyya police station area on September 27. He was riding a scooter.

Officials from the Paraiya police station seized the scooter and mobile phone of the deceased and sent the dead body to Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem. The deceased was later cremated as an unclaimed body.

Shahabuddin’s father Ghulam Haider was looking for him everywhere. He visited Paraiya police station on October 8 as a part of his search and noticed the scooter of his son kept there.

“We were met with indifference at the police station when we enquired about the scooter and the whereabouts of my son. After much pleading the officials there told me that his body was declared lawaris (unclaimed) and cremated. This is injustice. They could have easily located us with a little probe. They did not even show any remorse about their blunder,” Haider told reporters.

He added: “We want strict action against Paraiya station house officer (SHO) and other officials involved in cremating the dead. The senior police and administrative officers have assured me that justice would be done. I have lost my son and could not even give him the final send off as per our religion.”

The aggrieved father then went to Gaya senior superintendent of police (SSP) Ashish Bharti and complained about the incident. He entrusted the matter to Tekari sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Sushil Kumar Chanchal for probe.

Chanchal found out gross negligence of Paraiya station house officer (SHO) Mukesh Kumar, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Krishna Kumar Gupta and chowkidar Shyamsundar Paswan in delaying the registration of the FIR, verifying the identity and address of deceased Shahabuddin and, cremation of his body.

The incident led to a huge public outcry and a large number of people wanted to take out a candle light procession on Sunday..

“We suspended the ASI and the chowkidar on Sunday on the charges of delay in registering the FIR in the accident case, gross negligence in verifying the name and address of the deceased and the cremation of his body, as well as, dereliction of duty,” Gaya SSP Ashish Bharti told The Telegraph.

Bharti added: “Inspector general (Magadh range) Kshatraneel Singh suspended Paraiya inspector-cum-SHO Mukesh Kumar on Monday on our recommendation and further disciplinary action is being taken against him.”