Raghuvanshi murder: No end to troubles for families of accused
Relatives say no police officer informed them about chargesheet; young siblings drop out of school; parents struggle to survive in villages
Indore, Sept 7: The Shillong Police’s 750-page chargesheet, which was filed after over three months of Raja Raghuvanshi murder, says that an amorous relationship between Sonam Raghuvanshi and Raj Kushwaha was the motive for the murder.
Apart from Sonam’s family, the families of the other four youths were not aware of the development until they watched the news and social media. No official communication reached the families.
When the Shillong police team came to Indore and questioned Raj’s family, they had assured the family that they would keep them updated, but there has been no communication since then, Raj’s minor sister told this correspondent.
The families of Raj, Akash Rajput and Anand Kurmi have left Indore and returned to their villages. Their children have dropped out of school, and they no longer have any source of income. Some are struggling to find ways to earn a livelihood in the village, while others have moved to different cities.
When this correspondent spoke to the families, they said they no longer dared to face their neighbours or the people in their localities. Vishal Chauhan’s family is still in Indore, but they barely step outside their home and avoid talking to anyone.
When this correspondent spoke to Raj’s minor sister on the phone, she said the family saw the news about the chargesheet. However, no officer or authorised person contacted them.
She, along with her mother and two younger sisters, has been in the village for the past three months.
This year was supposed to be Raj’s sister’s Class XII board examination, which she could no longer take. Her younger sister has also dropped out of school. At the time of their departure, they had locked up their Indore home (a small room) in a hurry due to their grandmother’s demise. Their belongings are still in that house, and they continue to pay its rent every month.
Raj’s mother had a small-time job, but she has been ailing since her son’s arrest. The relatives in the village are offering some help, but beyond that, they have no idea what to do or how to move forward.
Akash’s cousin Amit (name changed), too, said they learned about the chargesheet through social media and the news. He explained that Akash’s father, mother and younger brother had moved to their village soon after his arrest. The younger brother’s education was interrupted. Akash’s father stayed in the village for some time, but when he couldn’t arrange a livelihood, he took the family away in search of work. Nobody knows where they went.
According to Amit, Akash’s parents are uneducated. They don’t even know how to travel to Shillong or hire a lawyer. Amit and his family are also living in fear.
Anand’s elder brother Ritesh (name changed) has moved back with his parents to their village. Ritesh said, “Our father cannot work, my brother is in jail. We don’t have work here. We are surviving by doing small farming tasks. But we don’t know how long we can carry on like this. A few days ago, we managed to speak with Anand once or twice. He said he was fine, and we believed him. Other than that, we have no information. Right now, we don’t even have the money to travel that far. We have no idea what will happen in the future.”
The police chargesheet mentions several witnesses and pieces of evidence related to the case. Yet, neither the Shillong Police nor the Indore Police are giving clear information.
Justice for Raja Raghuvanshi is important, but in the meantime, the families of the accused, who are not guilty themselves, are also being crushed. Those who are guilty will be punished by the law, but those who are innocent have also been put on trial by society.
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