The cremation of Sultanate Bektenov (51), a citizen of Kazakhstan, took place at CSI Church, Udupi, on June 10. Bektenov, who was married to a resident of Udupi, the late Kulin Mahendra Shah, passed away 35 days prior to the funeral.
The legal proceedings for the funeral were overseen by the district police superintendent and Puneeth Kumar, SI city police station, along with other officials. Following the legal process, the funeral rites were conducted according to Christian rituals at the CSI Church burial ground in Udupi.
The ceremony was presided over by Jose Benedict Ammana, priest, and attended by retired priest Ison Sukumar Palanna, pastor Joyce Kuriya Kon, social worker Nityananda Volakad, and other members of the Udupi church.
Bektenov, survived by her daughter Rebecca Kulin Shah, lived in Puttur, Udupi. Her sudden demise on May 7 prompted swift action from social worker Nithyanand Volakad, who rushed her to the Udupi district hospital. Despite efforts, she was pronounced dead upon arrival, and subsequent investigations led to the involvement of the Indian Embassy in tracing her heirs.
Unable to retrieve the mortal remains, the deceased’s son, through the embassy, requested the CSI Church, Manipal, to conduct the cremation.
