Lalla to be laid to rest... finally

The body of Baljit Lalla, 37, will finally be laid to rest at the Longdenville Cemetery today, not far from the grave where another body, which at the time was believed to be that of Lalla, was buried last week. A grave mistake by an attendant at the Forensic Science Centre resulted in the Lalla family receiving the body of a total stranger for burial last week. Full Hindu rites were carried out at the funeral and the body was interred at the Longdenville Cemetery.

On Tuesday, the Lalla family were putting preparations in place to have two Hindu rituals known as “Shaving” and “Bandara,” when they received information that the body, which was buried last week, was that of retired police officer Carlton Babb. Today, a second funeral will be held in Longdenville at the home of Baljit Lalla. Dass Funeral Home has decided to bear the full cost of the funeral. Relatives said yesterday that the trauma of discovering the body of Baljit Lalla on April 3, the funeral carried out for a total stranger, and the agony of having a second funeral is almost too much to bear.

They claimed that the incident now raises several questions about operations at the Forensic Science Centre. They remain sympathetic to the trauma being experienced by the Babb family, who were up until late yesterday attempting to get a court order to have the body exhumed from the Longdenville Cemetery. The Lalla family feel relieved that the body was not cremated, because it would have cheated the Babb family from carrying out the final rites for their loved one.

Newsday learnt that an investigation has been ordered by officials at the Forensic Science Centre into the mix-up. Director Yolande Thompson was said to be in a meeting and could not be reached for comment. Sources revealed that mortuary attendants are supposed to tag the bodies on arrival at the Forensic Science Centre. The body of Lalla was discovered at his home on April 3. Officers of the Chaguanas CID led by Inspector Burt Raphael and Ag Sgt Ajith Persad went to the scene and the body was taken to the Forensic Science Centre. An autopsy revealed no foul play in the death.