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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
A day after the probe into the murder of 24-year-old IT professional Swathi Santhanagopalakrishnan was transferred to Chennai police, her father said on Tuesday that her daughter’s body lay at the station for more than two hours but no one came forward to help.
Swathi, 24, was employed with Infosys’ branch at Mahindra World City at Singaperumalkoil, around 55 km from Chennai. She was found murdered at Nungambakkam railway station, triggering an outrage in civil society and among political parties.
“The passengers remained mute witnesses,” he said.
However, the family expressed confidence that the culprit will be brought to justice soon.
“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.
