TIRUCHY: A day after the arrest of P Ramkumar, prime suspect in the shocking murder of Chennai techie S Swathi, the family members of the victim had thanked the Tamil Nadu police and the Chief Minister for cracking the difficult case in a short span. The family had also requested the government and police department to pursue legal measures for awarding capital punishment to the apprehended accused for his heinous crime.
Speaking to the press persons at their ancestral house in Srirangam on Saturday night, Swathi’s uncle K Govindarajan said, “We are thankful to the Madras High Court for suo moto cognisance in this case. Let Swathi be the last victim in such hate crimes targeted at the women. At least from now on, public must come forward to question and report the offence that occurs before right in front of us.” Pitching for the public not to politicise the brutal murder in any perspective, the victim’s family said that they always had their hopes high that Tamil Nadu police and State government would resolve the murder case shortly. The family members putting aside their grief had urged the parents and schools to impart moral values to the school students right from the childhood for bringing down such violent offence particularly against the women in future. “Various people including the women associations and IT professionals, and also youngsters through social media had consoled us over the loss, we are thankful to them. Tireless efforts of police personnel is the reason for the arrest of perpetrator despite very limited evidence, and the perpetrator should be severely punished in the court of law.” Swathi’s uncle Govindarajan added.
Acknowledging the role of media in recognising the gravity of issue including a spotlight on women safety in cities, Swathi’s maternal uncle V Mukundan appealed to the media persons to avoid reaching out to the family in coming days as police personnel have already nabbed the culprit involved. It may be recalled that the 24-year-old techie Swathi was hacked to death in daylight at Nungambakkam railway station in Chennai on June 24 which promulgated widespread debate in social media and public for the safety of working women.