Kerala bids adieu to tourist with heavy heart
The relatives of murdered Latvian tourist thank the state for supporting them in the ordeal.
Thiruvananthapuram: With the arrest of two accused in the rape and murder of Latvian lady and the cremation of the victim on Thursday, the dreadful 47-day ordeal has ended for the family at least for the moment. Since the victim went missing from Kovalam on March 14, the people of the state, particularly the capital city residents, had been praying for her safe return. But the wait came to a tragic end on April 20 which incidentally was also the birthday of younger sister Ilze Skromane, when the body of the victim was spotted near Kovalam.
Throughout this period Ilze was active on social media seeking help from people to trace her sister, sharing her pictures and memories and making heartfelt appeals to the citizens. All through this trial and tribulation, the family could not even find time to grieve for their loved one. Thousands of people expressed their solidarity, empathy and shared her posts. Even in the midst of this traumatic experience and struggle for justice ILze never forgot to acknowledge their support. “Dear Friends and Supporters! Heartfelt thank you for caring so much about my sister and showing your love through active involvement and countless messages,” she noted in one of her Facebook posts.
“Thank you all dear sisters and brothers for all the love and support you have given us through this journey,” said another. The family still believes that had the police taken the situation seriously soon after FIR was filed, things could have been different. “Everybody kept assuring, in 24 hours she will turn up, in 48 hours she will turn up. I was crying and crying and begging that my sister had severe depression, she is vulnerable and someone could take advantage of it,” Ilze’s emotional outburst will continue to prick state’s conscience.
It goes without saying that Ilze’s relentless fight forced the police to shed its initial indifference and the government too understood the gravity of the issue and empathised with her. But the fight is not over yet, it has to continue till the accused are convicted and handed out exemplary punishment. Ilze penned a poem on her Facebook page on Thursday. And these verses sum up her emotions;"I will miss you immensely but with time I will let sorrow go, For I know that you would want for happiness and love to regain its flow, We can never be apart, Because you live on in my heart."