Date:11/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/11/stories/2008051159500700.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Jyothirmayi case: ETA offers help

Staff Reporter

Urges victim’s parents to visit UK

Authorities willing to arrange for parents’ passports
Government offers to pay for their passage to UK

VIJAYAWADA: Parents of Vempala Samrajya Joythirmayi, the 23-year-old student beaten to death in Birmingham on Tuesday, continue to be in a state of confusion whether to leave for the United Kingdom or wait for the body of their daughter to arrive, even as suggestions are pouring in from different quarters for them to leave for the UK immediately.

European Telugu Association (ETA) general secretary Peddi Nirmala Devi, who is in touch with the parents and others close to them such as former MLA Adusumilli Jayaprakash, reportedly said on Saturday that it would be better for the parents to leave for the UK immediately to have a last glimpse of the body before it was subjected to further tests. As the handing over of the body and transporting it to India was likely to take longer time than expected, it could create an unpleasant situation for the parents, she hinted.

As the State Government had already offered to foot the bill for the air travel of the parents, the ETA would take care of their stay in the UK and help them get back the body at the earliest, Ms. Nirmala Devi said.

After catching a glimpse of the body, if the parents were still in favour of taking it to India for performing the last rites, the ETA would help in that respect too, she assured.The parents said on Saturday that they were still holding discussions with their relatives and friends about the best course of action.

“Our relatives are expressing different opinions and we’re confused. Once we take a decision, we will let the media know about it,” said Naga Saibaba, father of Jyothirmayi.

Stating that there was not much progress in the case and there was no concrete information about the time to be taken by the Birmingham authorities to complete the legal formalities for the handing over of the body, former Mayor Jandhyala Sankar said that the passport authorities had expressed willingness to arrange passports immediately for the family members of Jyothirmayi, if they were ready to leave for Birmingham.