The verdict in the Jisha rape and murder case is a powerful message that no one can get away after committing crimes against women, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, soon after Jisha’s murderer was sentenced to death by the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court.
“This case verdict is sending across the message that nobody can escape after committing a crime against women and that we will not let them escape at any cost,” the CM’s statement read.
Pinarayi also said that the verdict was a valuable recognition of the government’s zero-tolerance for crimes against women. "The verdict in Jisha case is a recognition of the government's efforts towards ensuring that there are no compromises when it comes to the safety of women,” the CM said.
The Kerala government had given the highest priority for the case in which a young woman had been so brutally raped and murdered, the CM said. He also pointed to the fact that the LDF had reconstituted the investigation team soon after it assumed power, on the grounds that the probe had not gone in the right direction.
“This government gave utmost priority to nabbing the accused and giving him maximum punishment. That is exactly why we took the decision to form a high-level investigation team to probe the case when our cabinet met for the first time after assuming power. We had asked the team headed by ADGP B Sandhya, to conduct a just and impartial probe, without being influenced by anything. And they have worked according to the expectations of the government.”
The CM also took the opportunity to take a veiled hit at the previous government, by saying that the police had been floundering before the LDF set up the new investigation team. “Earlier, the police had been searching in the dark. But it is the result of this team's efforts that now the accused has been brought to book.”
“It is notable that the court has highlighted the success of the investigating team in collecting scientific evidence, book the culprit and that of the prosecution in conducting the case,” the statement said.
“The investigation closed all loop holes, and the government provided the freedom for a fearless investigation. The prosecution was also effective. It is commendable that the accused was booked in 18 days and the charge sheet submitted in 90 days,” the statement added.