Esther Anuhya murder case: Death will be a deterrent, say parents
'Will not get my daughter back, but death penalty will be a warning to criminals'
Vijayawada: Parents of raped and murdered Esther Anuhya said on Friday that the death sentence given to convict Chandrabhan Sanap would send out a strong message to the criminal minded and help reduce such crimes against women in the country. Esther’s father, retired professor Mr S. Jonathan Surendra Prasad, said that he and every well-wisher of the family had expected the death sentence for the culprit.
“Though I did not reveal this until now, internally we desired the death penalty for the murderer. We hope this teaches a lesson to every person who thinks of hampering the right to live of a girl in the country. We are not sure he (Sanap) would have changed if he was given life imprisonment, there is no use of such people to live,” he said.
“The verdict of the court has satisfied me as well as the people of Machilipatnam. I will not get my daughter back, but I believe this punishment will make culprits think before committing such acts,” he added.
Thanking the judiciary, Esther’s mother, Ms S. Jostna, said that the death sentence was a warning to other criminals. Speaking about Esther, Ms Jostna said that she was a calm girl who used to share everything with her. “We were like friends. She was innocent and helped everyone,” she added.
Police went slow, kin found body
Though the Mumbai police brought Esther Anuhya's murderer Chandrabhan Sanap to justice, it was her father S. Jonathan Surendra Prasad, uncle S. Arun Kumar, who stays in Mumbai, and members of a Mumbai-based NGO who did much of the initial work and even found her body.
Citing jurisdiction issues, the Mumbai police delayed the initial investigation until the Vijayawada railway police proved that Esther’s last mobile signal had come from a lonely place in Mumbai.
Prof. Prasad then went to Mumbai and teamed up with his brother to search for Esther. With the help of a local NGO, Esther’s family started searching every nook and corner of Mumbai.
On January 16, they found a burnt and decomposing body in the bushes beside the Eastern Express Highway near Kanjurmarg in the suburbs.
Christmas was Esther’s last celebration at home
The Christmas of 2013 was the last celebration in house of S. Esther Anuhya. There have not been many celebrations in her house since. Esther’s brother Noble said the death sentence would give them some closure, as they feel justice has been done to Esther. The family appeared sombre but satisfied by the court’s verdict to hang Sanap.