We all endure and wait for justice; says Fathima Latheef's bereft family on her first death anniversary

Kollam (Kerala): Fatima, Keelomthara Latheef's daughter from, Priyadarshani Nagar, Rantamkutty, Kollam, was found dead in her Chennai hostel room on November 9, 2019. Despite receiving national attention for the case, the family is still waiting patiently for justice over a year. Even after the CBI, the country's top investigating agency, has investigated, the question of who was responsible for her daughter's death remains unanswered.

"We all endure and wait for justice, I have done whatever I can. But still the responsible are not yet brought to book" Lamenting Latheef said.The CBI, which took over the case, has not yet taken a statement from the parents.

It was just on November 2, the DySP informed the family that the investigation was delayed due to the lockdown, and that further inquiries would be made soon, the only update known to the family!

Fatima got into Humanities and Social Science Course in Madras IIT winning first rank in the entrance examination. But for Fatima who dreamt of civil service, the fate was something else. Fatima committed suicide by writing a note on her mobile phone against the teachers who caused her death.

The family alleges that their daughter committed suicide because she could not bear the mental torture by the teachers. Despite complaints at the Union Home Minister level, the accused teachers are still safe at IITs. The investigation by the Tamil Nadu Kotturpuram police was not satisfactory.

Following the complaint, the case was taken over by the Chennai Central Crime Branch. The case was handed over to the CBI after the family approached the Union Home Minister Amit Sha with a petition signed by the MPs.

The family has sent another letter to the Union Home Minister through NK Premachandran MP after the investigation on the nationally sensitive case came to a standstill. Fathima's twin sister is currently a second year student of Thiruvananthapuram Law College.