Nithari verdict: Anger rages among victims' kin - NDTV.com - News on Nithari verdict: Anger rages among victims' kin

Nithari verdict: Anger rages among victims' kin - NDTV.com - News on Nithari verdict: Anger rages among victims' kin


Revati Laul

Saturday, March 24, 2007 (Noida):


A day after the CBI filed its chargesheet in the Nithari case exonerating Moninder Singh Pandher in the rape, murder and cannibalism of about 18 people, there's rage, anger and bitterness at ground zero.

"Since this man has done this to poor people's kids, if he gets out, something like this should hppen to rich kids, that's what I'm praying for," said Dolly, a local.

The CBI chargesheet was not the justice Dolly had been waiting for. Her friend Rajmati feels as defeated.

The bicycle is all Rajmati can stand to have around her as a reminder of her five-year-old son Max. She's packed away all his other toys, as she can't bear to see them now.

"He liked watching cartoons after school," she said.

Unending fear

Pandher's house in Noida is still ringed with policemen, security camera and the media. Though none of these have helped get Pandher, the victims' parents still come there to vent their anger.

It's a routine Rajmati, Dolly and many others are tired of. Only, they don't know where else to go.

"The police is only here to guard that man's house," said another.

Others like Pappu Lal have given up on the city that has taken away his eight-year-old daughter. As it is, after she went missing, he stopped sending his son to school.

"I don't let him go to school because I don't know who will take him and bring him back," said Pappu Lal, father of one of the victims.

For the moment, the anger and frustration of the victims of Nithari has given them a very fragile, collective bond, something to hold on to. No one wants to answer the question of what happens after.