Kottayam: Even as a sessions court in Kottayam started preliminary hearing in the case of the Thenmala honour killing, the victim's wife has steeled her resolve to pursue her studies and find a job to take care of her aged parents-in-law. She expects that justice will be served to her own father and brother, who have been cooling their heels in jail after being accused of orchestrating the murder of her husband.
Kevin P Joseph was kidnapped from his house at Kottayam on May 26. He was found dead in a rivulet near Thenmala in Kollam. The young man was hounded by the family of his wife, Neenu Chacko, the police said. Neenu's brother Sanu Chacko is the first accused in the case and her father Chacko the fifth accused. They were unhappy that Neenu chose to live with Kevin.
The trial is expected to be completed within six months as the crime is being treated as a case of honour killing.
Neenu stayed put in Kevin's house at Nattasseri even after the murder of her husband. She said that she never felt like visiting her father or brother in the jail. She has not talked to her mother or anyone else in her own family after the incident. She said that she found support from her friends and teachers.
Neenu and Kevin's parents are confident that justice will be served even as they try to help each other to survive the trauma. Neenu, a final-year degree student, has been offering tuition to children in the neighbourhood. She wants to complete the course and join an MSc geology course in a central university.
She said that it was not easy for her to get back on her feet. She found it extremely uncomfortable when someone stared at her or pointed her to someone else with an exasperating curiosity. She prefers to be among people who understand her. Yet she is waiting for her turn to tell the court her version.
No less disturbed is Anish Sebastian, Kevin's friend who was also kidnapped by Neenu's brother and gang in May. The assailants ransacked Sebastian's house while searching for him. He was later dropped off somewhere by the abductors before proceeding with Kevin.
Sebastian said she would stand by his statements before the court no matter what. He said that he believed that his friend's tormentors deserved maximum punishment. Things have not been easier for Sebastian. He said that he sometimes felt like his friend was calling out to him. He is yet to rebuild his house. He runs a cold storage at Mannanam yet finds time to visit Neenu and Kevin's parents.
Meanwhile, Neenu's mother Rehna is alone in her house. She initially moved elsewhere to avoid the media spotlight after the murder but returned after more than a month. She has reopened her stationery store and the tailoring centre.
She had accused her husband's brother of ill-treatment. She had sought treatment at a hospital. The accused had been remanded by a court.
