The burial of a priest, who died of Covid seven days ago, sparked controversy among relatives who were not happy at the way his last rites were conducted.

The administration in Ramgarh allowed the family to make an effigy and conduct the priest’s last rites on Thursday evening in a selected spot.

After taking permission of his family, the body of the priest, who was identified as Sitaram Mishra, was buried 9-feet deep at the IFCO ground.

However, relatives of the priest as well as some elderly people claimed that burying of his body was against the rules of Hinduism, and that the body should be consigned to flames.

They also got the support of some political parties.

Ramgarh circle officer Bhola Shankar Mahto said that the relatives were told that it was not possible to exhume the body.

“We suggested they take up the last rites with an effigy in the spot where the body was buried, and they agreed,” he said.

Officials agreed and allowed some relatives of Mishra to carry out the rites.

They were given PPE kits, gloves and face shields to avoid any infection.

Mishra’s two sons, Arvind and Chintu, consigned the effigy to flames.

His grandsons, Abhishek Mishra and Bablu, were present at the ceremony, during which the IFCO grounds were sealed.

Sub divisional police officer of Ramgarh Anuj Oroan and officer-in-charge of Ramgarh police station Vidya Shankar were also present on the spot.