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Harassed family of victim pleads: ‘Just leave us alone’

Pritha Chatterjee

Posted: Jan 03, 2013 at 0354 hrs IST
Protesters at the Mahila Suraksha Samman March in New Delhi on Wednesday. Prem Nath Pandey

New Delhi Minister Shashi Tharoor suggests that the proposed anti-rape law be named after the Delhi gangrape victim. The BJP wants her to get the Ashok Chakra. A Telugu filmmaker reportedly wants to change his film to incorporate her story into it. All that the family of the murdered 23-year-old woman wants is to be left alone.

They are exhausted by the endless, unwanted attention, all the fake names thought up by media organisations for her, and the manner in which the horrific tragedy is being made into a spectacle.

“Before you name laws and schools after her, and give her awards, our only request is bring us justice. Hang the people who tortured and killed my sister; that will be the biggest tribute to her,” the victim’s 19-year-old brother told The Indian Express.

Asked about Tharoor’s proposal — amplified by the media since Tuesday, rejected by the Congress but reported to have been seconded by the family on Wednesday — the brother said: “My father feels if they want to name the new law after her, they can go ahead, it will be like a shraddhanjali in her memory. I don’t understand why that has generated so much controversy. If it means people chasing us even more, we don’t want it.”

On Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta’s letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday demanding India’s highest peacetime gallantry award for her, the brother said: “I am getting calls about naming laws, schools, movies after my sister, and giving her awards. Media people are walking into our home in the village, asking for comments on each of these from anyone who is available. We just want to be left alone.”

Telugu filmmaker Ramana Gaddam has been reported to be planning changes in his new film Nisha to highlight the December 16 gangrape. The victim’s brother said, “People should not forget that till the last minute when she was conscious, my sister was wary of even relatives visiting her in hospital. She constantly told me to make sure nobody knew what had happened to her.”

He added that he had “no idea” what making a film about her meant. “The public anger is justified, but my sister’s story should not be made into a spectacle. If anybody has suggested such a thing, should they not have first met or asked us if we were okay with it?”

The family has been at their native village since immersing her ashes in the Ganga. There, the brother said, “well wishers and media persons” had “invaded every room in the house”, not “leaving anybody alone”.

“Even my grandmother, who is in shock, has had to answer questions on how my sister was, and why she went to Delhi. All our lives are before the public now, what more can we offer?” he said.

His mother, who had fallen unconscious before her daughter’s body was being taken for cremation and had to be admitted to a Delhi hospital, is still ill, the teen said. “She has fever, she is still not eating or sleeping properly. And people want to know how she feels. How can she feel? What comments can she give?”

The police are expected to file the chargesheet on Thursday before a fast track court. But the family has no plans to return to Delhi immediately. “We have not been called yet. If we are called, we will come, otherwise we will return by January 15. We need some time alone as a family,” the brother said.

He added, “All these names like Damini, Amanant and Nirbhaya that are being thrown at us, all the fake pictures that are circulating on social networking sites, it is exhausting. Our neighbourhood in Delhi had become a nightmare, people were standing outside our house. We came away here, and we are still being hounded.”

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Perfectly said by am on 03 Jan 2013

The brother said it perfectly. Their family has every right in the world to demand that we respect their privacy and allow them to grieve in private. Please let us honour that. Anyone trying to take milage from their condition - including movie makers, politicians of any colour - must be tried under some or other Indian law on harassment.

give them some tym to be recovered by rishu on 03 Jan 2013

they r going through the worst phase of their life.people and media shud respect their privacy.they r not able to tackle this unwanted publicity and attention now.let them be alone for some tym.

A cry for HELP, which can't be heard by Indian on 03 Jan 2013

An innocent life is lost and the family is trying to face the truth, their loved one is gone from this world with so much pain and suffering. What is done can't be undone but the only thing anyone can ask for and should be given is justice. If anyone really wants to help the family, it can be done only when each and every person in the gang who raped the lady is hanged to death as soon as possible. She lived so short because of them, why are they living so long because of our law. Wake up and change it as WE NEED A CHANGE for betterment.

Manager by Jackie on 03 Jan 2013

A young girl's life has been taken away with no justification. A family is trying to recover from the loss and pain they have undergone seeing their child and sister go through such pain. Why can't Indians learn to mind their own business and start focusing on the criminals so justice is taken at a quicker phase and let her soul rest in peace. INDIA its time for reform and make change so that you can keep up with the rest. Keep your eyes on the real matter. Leave the family alone to moan the loss of their beloved one.

NOT GOOD by PANKAJ on 03 Jan 2013

This is really pathetic for the family members to face unwanted attention. if aomething has to be done, then give them immediate aid like money, job etc etc for their future. instead of announcing in public. and leave them alone for some time to recover from shock.

VICTIMS FAMILY IN DILEMMA OVER POLITICAL INTERVENE by SIMMI MOHINDRU .JALANDHAR CITY .PUNJAB on 03 Jan 2013

The family members of the gang rape victim Family are really in dilemma over the intervene of Political Parties and Political Leaders on this sensitive issues . The Family requests to leave them alone as the Family is in shock due to the demise of there daughter Damini . Really the Political Leaders should refrain from indulging in comments that irks the sentiments of the Family members of the Victim .

Victims Family by parvathi murali on 03 Jan 2013

Media should have a bit of Human Touch to this tragedy Family of victim need privacy to mourn for the death of their beloved daughter ,sister and grand daughter.They do not want publicity and fame form this terrible tragedy Media please leave them alone !!

Keep away by Sanjay (US) on 03 Jan 2013

Who is going to go after the media and cover the harassment that is meted out to this family. Media is always superactive when it comes to reporting any incident but how about the invasion of privacy when committed by the same media.

Victims family by Avi on 03 Jan 2013

It's a shame that the family is being harassed after having gone through hell. Why can't they be allowed to grieve in peace.

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