When C Velusamy, 47, father of dalit youth Shankar, who was murdered in broad daylight in Udumalpet on March 13, visited his daughter-in-law S Kowsalya at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) on Wednesday, the latter expressed her wish to live with her late husband's family. Velusamy assured her there would always be a place for her at his home.
V Velusamy, a daily wage labourer and his second son V Vigneswaran, 19, visited the CMCH on Wednesday evening and met Kowsalya, 19, at the trauma ward for more than two and a half hours. "She told us she had nowhere to go when she leaves the hospital. She wants to live with us in Kumaralingam," said
Vigneswaran.
Shankar and his son have visited Kowsalya at the hospital on several occassions. "She was studying second year BE (computer science) in a private college in Pollachi. She wants to complete the course in the same college. She is part of our family and we will take good care of her," said Vigneswaran.
Kowsalya hopes to get a good job in the IT field after she completes her course so she could contribute to the family finances.
"We want justice for Shankar's murder. Most of the accused have been arrested by the police. They should be severely punished," he said.
CMCH doctors told Velusamy that they were ready to discharge his daughter-in-law at any time. However, Tirupur rural police officials advised the family to wait for a few more days.
Meanwhile Udumalpet police produced one of the accused V Prasanna 20 from Neikkaranpatti near Palani before the judicial magistrate court in Udumalpet on Wednesday and obtained five days police custody of him.
On Thursday evening, Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam founder president P John Pandian met Kowsalya at the hospital.
On March 13, newly wed-couple V Shankar, 22 from Kumaralingam village and his wife Kowsalya were returning home from a shopping trip in Udumalpet when he brutally murdered in the full public view and she was also severely assaulted by a gang.