Mishel ShajiThiruvananthapuram: Mishel Shaji would still be alive had the police acted soon after they received a complaint that the girl was missing, her father Shaji Varghese told chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He broke down as he recounted the frantic search for his daughter - he had gone to three police stations with the complaint - after he learned that his daughter had not returned to the hostel on March 5.
The 18-year-old aspiring chartered accountant was found dead in the Kochi Lake near Willingdon Island on March 6 evening. The local police initially tried to close the case as suicide but relentless pressure from her family has forced the government to put the Crime Branch on the job.
The chief minister tried to console the girl’s father by assuring him of justice. The government had put tested officers on the job, Pinarayi said.
Varghese said the police had been trying to hush up the case as suicide from the initial stage and they failed to clear the apprehensions of the family.
Also read: Mishel's family has 3 questions: can the police answer?
Sabu K. Jacob, who leads an action council formed to pile pressure on the police, said they were not satisfied with the investigation so far.
Varghese met the chief minister in his office in the Legislative Assembly in the presence of legislators Anoop Jacob, M. Swaraj, A. N. Shamzeer, Hibi Eden and Veena George. Kerala Congress (Jacob) chairman Johny Nelloor, Merchants' Association secretary Jose Perumbalath, Piravom municipal council members Jils Periyapuram, Dr Ajesh Manohar, Ilanji panchayat executive council member Siju Jose and Raju Panalikkal were also with them.
The family also met Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and former chief minister Oommen Chandy. Chandy is expected to visit Mishel’s family on Thursday and Ramesh on Friday.
