Loitam Richard murder case: So far too good
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: May 11, 2012 -

Dr Vidyabati Loitam, heartbroken mother of Richard holding the photograph of her son :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

From the development taking place, that too faster than expected, it seems that the alleged case of Richard Loitam's murder by some of his hostel mates is inching towards its logical conclusion.

As the headline of this paper on its May 10 edition screamed, now it's only a matter of two days' wait to know the actual cause of the death of Richard Loitam, a second semester engineering student on the night of April 17, which the authorities of Acharya NRV School of Architecture, Soladevanahalli, Bangalore had tried everything possible to cover up, first by accusing the victim to be a drug abuser and then latter asserting that the death was due to a motor bike accident Richard had two days earlier.

But the battered and blood splattered corpse of Richard told of a different story. Heartbroken mother of Richard, Dr RK Vidyabali Devi, who herself is a professing doctor discredited the claim of the school authorities, pointing out that 'the fact that the preliminary post-mortem found hemorrhaging (bleeding) at places over both cerebral hemispheres means both sides of the head had been body wounded, which is not possible in an accident.'

This was something that could not be rubbished and swept under the carpet. Now that the forensic report is expected to be received by the investigating officer after two days (since one day is already over), the truth is likely to come out in the open soon.

The forensic report would also answer many of the questions in the minds of the people including that of Dr Vidyabali who wanted to know, "We have sent our children for education to other places of India by trusting the college management, warden etc.

We are keeping the kids in the hostel as we have faith in the management. Why have they treated my son so cruelly when I have trusted them? Why destroy the bright futures of our children?...All sons and daughters' lives are precious to every parent. Please do not break all mothers' heart. Please give me justice".

While waiting for the justice to be delivered, we should not forget the fact why the death of Richard, which, imbued with stench bordering on racial discrimination, appears to be more than just a 'murder most foul', has generated such unprecedented wide spread public protest in different parts of the country cutting across political and community line.

This kind of unity is required for the truth to prevail. Though snuffing out of a young life which was full of promises and hopes is an irreparable loss, and we have no words that could console the grieving parents of Richard, nonetheless, we would like to say that the death of Richard was not in vain.

Richard definitely succeeded in bringing together the people to stand up and raise their voice in unison against injustice.

As Marin Luther King Jr had once said, 'injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere', let this collective fighting spirit against injustice remains always shining from the fire that lit the pyre of Richard.

Satyameva Jayate.