KOCHI: The mysterious death of 18-year-old Mishel Shaji Varghese on March 6 had triggered a debate on the safety of women in the city. However, even after eight months, the investigators failed to provide a satisfactory answer to the questions raised by the family of the deceased. According to police officers, a department-level action has been initiated against the personnel attached to the Women Police Station, Town North Police Station and Central Police Station for showing laxity in looking into the complaint filed by Mishel’s parents on March 5. A day later her body was recovered from the backwaters.
The discrepancies
Following a lengthy investigation, the sleuths came to the conclusion that Cronin Alexander Baby, 26, who was arrested for abetting the suicide, used to threaten and emotionally torture Mishel forcing her to take the extreme step. But, even after the backwater from Gosree second bridge to Mattanchery wharf was thoroughly searched with the help of Naval divers, Mishel’s personal belongings such as her mobile phone, watch, shoulder bag and footwear were never recovered.
Also, the identities of the two men who had allegedly followed her on a motorcycle from St Antony’s church at Kaloor at 6:02 pm on March 5, are yet to be established. The police had circulated their pictures but nothing came up.
The case was rife with discrepancies. Mishel’s parents alleged there were dark blue scars on either side of her nose and arms. They conveyed their suspicion that Mishel didn’t die due to drowning. However, police officers said no such injuries were found during the postmortem examination. According to the postmortem certificate and the doctor, no force had been exerted on Mishel and she was not raped.
What the police say
According to the cops, Cronin and Mishel got acquainted on Facebook while she was studying in the higher secondary. Cronin enticed her into a love affair. He used to take her to various places without the knowledge of her parents and the hostel authorities. During these trips, he used to take their photos. After she joined the CA course at an institute in Palarivattom, she decided to end the affair. But Cronin wanted to continue and began contacting her over the mobile phone.
He began stalking her and even physically assaulted Mishel. On March 5, the day she went missing, Cronin had called her five times and sent 26 SMS, said the cops. The accused had even made his mother call the deceased. Also on the day she went missing, Cronin had threatened Mishel’s friend Christy, thinking they were having an affair. All this might have increased her mental stress and forced her to take the extreme step, added the police officers. It was on March 6, Mishel’s body was recovered from the backwaters near Kochi wharf, a day after she was reported missing from the hostel at Kacheripady.