Aarushi’s friends plan protest march

The Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) decision to close Aarushi Talwar’s murder case due to lack of evidence has come as a shock to her friends. Joyeeta Ghosh reports.

The Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) decision to close Aarushi Talwar’s murder case due to lack of evidence has come as a shock to her friends. Aarushi, a Class 9 student, was was found murdered in her own house in May 2008.

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“It has come as a very big shock to us. We wanted justice for our friend and instead this is what we have got. We wanted a closure but not like this,” said Rajeshwari Sahay, who was Aarushi’s classmate.

Niyati Mehra, another classmate of Aarushi, expressed anger and disgust at the inefficiency of the authorities. “The Noida police bungled up the whole case and then handed it over to the CBI, who seemed totally helpless. This kind of a verdict is very disheartening for the family and us, her friends,” said Mehra.

Neelakshi Barua, mother of one of Aarushi’s closest friends Neesha, said: “I don’t buy their (CBI’s) story that the case was shut due to lack of evidence. It is such a shame that the young girl has been denied justice because of the inefficiency of our investigating authorities. Is this the fate of cases like these from now on?”

Aarushi’s friends are now planning to hold a peaceful march to protest the closure of the case.

“Since the news broke, all of us have been on phone and are planning to hold a protest march on Friday. We are trying to figure out the place and also the formalities like police permission,” said Mehra.