'Jacintha's funeral will be in Shirva'

 The members of Jacintha’s in-law’s house are anxiously waiting for the post mortem report and also the release of the body at the earliest. It is known that her last rites will be performed in Shirva as per the Catholic rituals immediately after Benedict Barboza arrives with Jacinta’s body.

Benedict’s family members said that Benedict and children were allowed to see the body yesterday.

Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes appealed media persons to respect the privacy of the family during the time of grief. “In their moment of sorrow, the family has made a special appeal that they may be allowed privacy. I am just conveying their sentiments to media people. For us, it is a matter of concern and we need to help the family. Owing to the need of privacy, they have not been able to interact with media,” he said.

“I have been in touch from the moment of the incident with the Indian High Commission and they have categorically told me that family members will be allowed to see the body only after the post mortem is over. That is the system in that country. They have also told me that it will take three to four days to complete the inquiry and formalities and hand over the body to the family members. I have taken up the issue with foreign affairs ministry also. I offered my condolences to the family,” he said.

Fernandes said, that he has been informed by the Indian High Commission that the post mortem is over and the family is allowed to see Jacintha’s body. Indian government is in touch with British government. “In the matter of compensation offered by the Indian government to the family, we are yet to decide over the issue,” he added.

Congress leader Veronica Cornelio said the family is in distress and deep grief. It is big shock to them.  The uncertainty over the situation in London has bothered them.

They are also tensed about the delay in the release of the body. She added that they want to avoid media as they have lost faith in media as they are wrongly misinterpreted every time they spoke. Most of the time they were wrongly quoted and they feel the information that is delivered by the media is taking new dimensions everyday and most of the news is found to be not true. They also said Benedict and children have seen the body of Jacintha. The family is in constant touch with Benedict, she said.

The family is so opposed to media that the correspondents from BBC and also The Guardian had to return empty handed. The house is locked once the family members see media people anywhere near the house. They just close the doors of the windows and remain indoors till the media people vacate the place. The hatredness is so severe that media people who visit the house are more often welcomed by the furious dogs.