This has brought a sigh of relief to the police, who had to stand guard over the corpse for 10 days, and Demti villagers, who had fled homes since June 13, when armed tribals of Jotasan had laid siege to their village. Said S.P. Shastri, deputy superintendent of police (headquarters), ``It is finally over. The body was cremated at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday.''

Bhadubhai, patriarch to 11 children and grandchildren, was contracted by a man of Gavpipal village in Rajasthan (close to Gujarat border) to transport bamboo on his camel to Dantad village. After off-loading the cargo, Bhadubhai is said to have got drunk in Lambadia. On the night of June 11, a drunken Bhadubhai walked along Demti village and fell into the well of Hirabhai Velabhai Parmar, also a tribal.

The angry panches of Bhadubhai's tribe bargained for money from Demti -- just because his body happened to be found near that village. They also demanded that Gavpipal and Dantad villages, too, pay compensation.

But the drama of the absurd does not end here. With cash in hand, it is time for celebration for Jotasan tribals. Says local scribe Narendra Patel, ``A lion's share from the money will go to the leaders. The family will get only some Rs 5,000.''

After the cremation is over, a bull is slaughtered. All villagers take chapatis with them to the site where the beef is being cooked, and join the party, which is incomplete without locally-made liquor.

If tribals are poor where do they get the money to pay such a large compensation? ``The custom is so strong that every family has to contribute for the compensation money. Mostly, they pawn their meagre jewellery or sell their cattle,'' says Patel. And like vultures, there are money-lenders in the area, ready to prey upon the tribals.