The Hindu : National : Finally justice delivered, says Mattoo's family

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Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006
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Finally justice delivered, says Mattoo's family

New Delhi: "Finally justice has been delivered," said an exuberant Chaman Lal Mattoo on Tuesday on hearing of the conviction of Santosh Kumar Singh for raping and killing his daughter Priyadarshini Mattoo.

"I can't express myself. I have no words to express how I feel," Mr. Mattoo, who is in Himachal Pradesh, told PTI over phone.

"Justice has been done. Common people in the country can now breathe with ease. This is a step in the right direction. My daughter cannot come back. But at least, her soul will be in peace today," he said.

CBI chief thanked

Mr. Mattoo thanked CBI Director Vijay Shanker for taking a personal interest in the case.

Indu Jalali, a close friend of Priyadarshini, who had been monitoring the case from the beginning, said: "Though delayed, at least justice has been done," she said.

For Priyadarshini's brother Hemant, who lives in New York, it was hope regained in the Indian judicial system.

"To be honest I had lost hope, because of the way it [investigation] was handled...the way they [investigators] were going around doing the business," he said.

After the media attention and support from other quarters, "I have been more hopeful than I was on day two of the crime."

PTI

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