Jacintha Case - Mangalore Diocese Urges Indian Govt's Intervention
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, Dec 10: The suspected suicide of Mangalore-born Jacintha Saldanha, who was working as nurse in the King Edward VII hospital in London, has created ripples all over the globe. On Monday December 10, a press meet was held at the Bishop's House here to demand thorough investigation and justice in the case.
Addressing the press meet, vicar general of Mangalore diocese Fr Denis Prabhu said, "We urge the Indian government through the media to make quick arrangements to get Jacintha’s mortal remains to India."
Calling for a detailed investigation, he added, "There should be a detailed inquiry about what led to Jacintha’s death. The bureaucrats of London are behaving in an irresponsible way, hence the India government should intervene in this matter and make further arrangements.
"Though we are Catholics and even they are Catholics we do not know how the system works there and how arrangements are done," he added.
KPCC secretary Ivan "The death of Jacintha Saldanha is suspicious. She was bold and brave lady, with good family background. She would never take such an extreme step. Her death seems to be mysterious. Even her husband and children were not allowed to see the dead body."
He added, "We have urged our leaders Veerappa Moily, Oscar Fernandes and external affairs ministry to put pressure on the Indian embassy in the UK regarding handing over of Jacintha's body to her family in Shirva at the earliest."
He also said that there was no direct contact between the London authorities and her family. "Only Jacintha’s husband telephoned and informed them about her death. Since then there has been not a single piece of information, and even her family could not communicate with Jacintha's husband.
Ivan further added that though he had no definite information, he had heard that a couple of cops from London had reportedly visited Shirva and conducted enquiries with the Barboza family.
Leena Mathias, state joint secretary of women Congress, Maxim Noronha, William Menezes, Marshal Monteiro were present.
Jacintha Saldanha was found dead on December 7, two days after she fell prey to a prank call by Australian radio presenters who pretended to be the Queen (Elizabeth) and Prince Charles, which led to the leaking of sensitive information about duchess Kate Middleton who was admitted at King Edward VII hospital for morning sickness. The incident has shocked the world, and resulted in the suspension of the radio presenters, who later apologized for their act.
Jacintha Saldanha (46) was married to Benedict Barboza from Shirva. The couple, blessed with a son and a daughter, had settled in Bristol.
Jacintha's brother says she died of shame
Meanwhile, the UK-based Daily Mail reported that Jacintha's family believe she died of shame after falling for the prank call.
Jacintha's brother Naveen was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying that his devoutly Catholic sister was a "proper and righteous person".
She would have been "devastated" at unwittingly assisting a colleague in breaching medical confidentiality over the condition of Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.
"She would have felt much shame about the incident," Naveen said.
Jacintha's husband Benedict expressed his sadness on his Facebook page with a short note 'Obituary Jacintha' in which he said, "I am devastated with the tragic loss of my beloved wife Jacintha in tragic circumstances. She will be laid to rest in Shirva, India. Will update this information."