Chennai: Call it irony, but an incident that has triggered an outrage in the civil society, had no helping hands when it happened.
Swathi Santhanagopalakrishnan, an Infosys employee, was found murdered at Nungambakkam railway station and while her body was lying at the station for more than two hours, no one came forward to help, says the father of 24-year-old IT professional.
“The passengers remained mute witnesses,” he said.
However, as the case has been transferred to the city police, the family expressed confidence that the culprit will be soon brought to justice.
“We have much confidence in Chennai Police. I think they will find the culprit and produce him before a court of law,” Swathi’s father said.
The police had come under criticism as no headway has been made in the case so far although cops had released CCTV images of a suspect.
The Madras High Court had also come down on the state government, warning it of suo motu intervention if there was any slackness in the probe.
The state government had subsequently transferred the investigation of the case from the Government Railway Police to the city police on Monday.
Meanwhile, the BJP’s state unit staged a protest in Chennai demanding justice in the case.
Party’s state unit president Tamilisai Sounderrajan and other senior leaders participated in the protest held at Valluvar Kottam.
Congress National spokesperson Khushbu Sundar called on the family of the victim and consoled them.
The actor-politician visited Swathi’s residence at Choolaimedu.
She later told reporters that the issue should not be politicised. She said there are some lapses on part of the government like absence of a CCTV camera at the station, and regretted that no passengers had come forward to help the victim.
Even if one of them had taken a picture or video of the alleged attacker on mobile phone, it would have helped in identifying him, she said, adding, people should come forward in such incidents to help the victim or overpower the attacker.
She also expressed concern over what she termed as “speculation” on social media and platforms over the motive behind the killing.
(With PTI inputs)
