Indian's open-air cremation sparks legal row in Britain

The body of a 31-year-old Sikh was consigned to flames in a Northumberland field in Britain's first open-air cremation in 72 years, prompting investigations into whether it breached laws against such practices.

Although police initially gave permission for Rajpal Mehat's funeral yesterday to proceed, they later said they were probing to see if it violated the Cremation Act, which restricts burning of human remains to crematoriums.

Mehat, a taxi-driver from Kapurthala in Punjab who had come to Britain in search of work two years ago, was found drowned in a canal in December last year. His remains were kept in a mortuary for seven months until a friend helped identify it.

Mehat's grief-stricken mother and sister flew from India to attend the funeral in a clearing at a secret location in rural Northumberland, 725 km from London. They wept inconsolably as his coffin, covered in a white cloth, was placed on the pyre that was set alight as a Brahmin priest led chanting, in a 4000-year-old rite.      

The funeral was organised by a charity that is fighting to win recognition for the right of British Hindus and Sikhs to hold open air cremations. It hopes that the day will set a precedent for thousands of future funerals to be held on open land at approved locations across the country. Britain is home to 490,000 Hindus and 310,000 Sikhs.