Harrowing time for family which tended to Nandita

The investigation by the CID team into the mysterious death of Nanditha, the 14-year old girl from Thirthahalli, has made life miserable for the family which reportedly rescued the girl from Anandagiri Hill on the outskirts of the town on October 29.

The girl was allegedly taken there by a three-member gang. Chandramma, 65, and Jayamma, 55 - who had gone there to fetch firewood - had taken Nanditha to their house, half a km from the spot. The girl had reportedly told them that she was forced to consume poison by the group. The girl asked for water and the elderly women gave it to her.

The family of Chandramma and Jayamma is now going through anxious moments. They said that the probe is hindering their daily life. The investigating team which took away the cellphone of Raveendra, a relative of Chandramma, has not returned it yet.

They said that they are unable to go about their daily routine, due to frequent visits by the police to their house to question them on the incident. Based on the request by the family, police personnel have been deployed at their residence at Tudaki on the outskirts of the town.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Chandramma said, “Visits by the police to our house to monitor our activities is harassing us. I had been to a convention hall in the town for some work. Police had come there in search of me and questioned me. All these things are hindering our normal life. We are dejected as our efforts to save the girl’s life went in vain.”

Raveendra told Deccan Herald, “I am a construction worker and I usually get work-related calls to my cellphone. Since the police took away the phone, I have lost my daily wages. I had called up the father of the girl (Krishnappa) on October 29, to inform him that his daughter had been rescued and that she was at our house. So, police have taken away the phone. I urge the police to return it soon.”