Some residents of Balammalpuram in Karur district on Monday foiled an attempt bury a seriously affected AIDS patient alive, police said in Madurai on Tuesday.

Forty-year-old Jafferdari, a driver by profession, was admitted to the government-run Rajaji Hospital in Madurai recently after being diagnosed with AIDS. But doctors discharged him on Monday after his condition worsened.

Since the owner of the house where Jafferdari resided refused to entertain an AIDS patient, his relatives allegedly took him to the burial ground and started conducting preparations for his burial. However, the watchman of the burial ground panicked and informed some people about the goings-on, police said.

When the news spread, people gathered at the spot and protested. They warned Jafferdari's relatives that their action would amount to murder.