Kandhamal-( Orissa) 83-year-old man was denied cremation by Hindu radicals because of his association with Christians.

“These are blatant violations of constitutional rights. No citizen should be discriminated on the ground of religion or caste,” Father Santosh Digal, who looks after social communications in Cuttack-Bhubaneswar archdiocese, said.

Subarna Digal, a Hindu dalit, died of natural causes on Dec. 27 in Milsikia village of Kandhamal district, the epicenter of anti-Christian violence in the state two years ago.

His relatives were stopped by the members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS, national volunteers corps) from cremating his body.

“They threatened us and asked us to leave the cremation ground. We had to take the body to a far-off place for cremation,” Mandya Digal, one of the relatives of the deceased, told ucanews.com.

He said that the radicals are forcing them to boycott some of their relatives who have become Christians.

“They are now refusing us to draw water from the wells. We are scared,” he added.

The cremation ground is common for both dalit and tribal people.

Kartika Digal, a youth from the district, said the situation has worsened after the RSS-affiliated tribal outfit held a meeting in Barkhama village before Christmas.