Rising above religious boundaries, a Muslim man has performed last rites of his Hindu friend Santosh Singh Thakur in Madhya Pradesh’s Baitul district.

After arranging all the necessary items required for the last rites, Abdul Razzak cremated Santosh’s body in accordance with the Hindu rituals.

Santosh collapsed in a hospital after prolonged illness on 20 September.

The labourer and his wife Chhayabai were childless and they also had no relatives around. So, Razzaq, his friend, stepped forward to conduct the rituals.

Razzaq, who plies an auto-rickshaw, said his friendship was not based on a religious plank and that ” I performed my duties as a friend.”