I’m still BSP man working for Maya: Shashi’s father

In the 2007 Assembly elections,Prasad had worked for Anansden because he was the party candidate. “After Anandsen became a minister,he kept visiting me at home. I thought that he was happy with my work. But after Shashi went missing,I came to know that he had different reasons,” said Prasad.

Recalling the incident,Prasad said that on October 22,2007,Shashi — a final-year LLB student at Saket Mahavidyalaya in Ayodhya — left for college as usual in the morning from her home in Saulara village,about 30 km from Faizabad city. “When she did not return till late evening,I contacted our relatives and friends in Ayodhya. No one had any information about her. The next day,I lodged a complaint with the police,” said Prasad.

While going through Shashi’s papers at home,he came across some notes and poetry addressed to Anandsen,his address and contact numbers. “These included some letters I do not want to talk about,” said Prasad. This showed that Anandsen was in regular contact with Shashi and “had lured and developed relations with my daughter”,he added.

Soon,he gathered more information which showed that the minister,his driver Vijaysen and Seema Azad had killed Sashi. Prasad approached the police,but they did not listen. He then staged a dharna in Lucknow for three days. It was only then that the police registered a case of murder and started proper investigation.

“Anandsen’s goons began threatening me. They would move around my house and abuse my family. They also made threatening calls,Almost daily,they threatened us to withdraw the case. I complained to the police authorities in Faizabad,but they did not help. Anandsen’s people also offered me money and job for my other daughter,” said Prasad.

Now,when the court has convicted Anandsen and his accomplices,Prasad can at least have the satisfaction that his fight had been worthwhile. Saying that he respects the court judgment,which awarded life sentences to Anandsen,his driver and Seema Azad,Prasad added: “I wish they were given death sentences.”