Over 22K join ‘Justice for Anissia’ online campaign

Ishrat S Banwait

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 21

As many as 22,000 people from across the country have joined the social media campaign, “Justice for Anissia”.

A petition on www.change.org demanding justice for Anissia has been addressed to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the Delhi Police. Almost 22,000 people have signed it. The target is 25,000. Besides, a Facebook page, named “Justice for Anissia” has more than 4,400 likes, while 600 are following a Twitter handle with the same name.

The 39-year-old air hostess, Anissia Batra, died last week after falling from the fourth floor of her house in South Delhi. A case of dowry death has been filed and her husband Mayank Singhvi arrested.

Father had sought police help

On Twitter, a police complaint by victim’s father Major General RS Batra, which he wrote on June 27, has surfaced. According to it, he feared that Anissia’s in-laws might harm her physically and she could even lose her life. He had, thus, sought police help.

Tweeter user Ira Merani, who posted the complaint, has tweeted: “I do sincerely hope our judiciary and investigating agencies pay heed to this crucial evidence and Anissia gets justice.”

Another tweet says: “A lot has been said about Anissia and her family. High time we focus on Singhvis. Who are they? How well are they connected? High time media houses focus on their mucky history.”

Yet another tweet pointed out that Anissia’s in-laws were absent from her last rites.

Rannvijay Singha, a video jockey and actor, shared the petition on twitter and asked for support.

Rachna Jhina, a friend of the deceased, wrote on Facebook: “Anissia was 39 and had been working since she was 21. Living life on own terms.”

Won’t rest till she gets justice: Gul 

Actor-turned-politician Gul Panag, a friend of Anissia, wrote on a news website: “She did not deserve this end. And I can say this for our entire Lawrence Lovedale batch of 1996 – and all those who loved her – that we will not rest till she gets justice.” Panag had met Anissia while studying at The Lawrence School, Lovedale, and the two had been friends since then.

Did someone push her?

New Delhi: The probe into the suicide of Anissia Batra has taken a new turn with eyewitnesses claiming that Anissia tried to save herself and kept holding on to a grill for some time before she fell from the building. Two labourers, who were working near Anissia’s house, have given a statement to the police. A senior officer probing the case confirmed the development. Source said Anissia had texted her friends, telling them that Mayank was responsible for her death. One of them claimed that Anissia wanted to divorce Mayank and was also looking for an accommodation. tns