Ten years after her husband’s charred body was discovered inside a burning company vehicle at the Fiji Sugar Corporation mill yard in Lautoka, widow Ranjani Devi says she has lost hope that those responsible for his death will ever be brought to justice.
In a heartfelt social media post marking the anniversary of the death of her husband, Salesh Chand, Ms Devi expressed frustration over the lack of arrests and the disappearance of a gold chain she says was handed to police following the post-mortem examination.
“It is 10 years today since my husband’s charred body was found inside his burning company vehicle at the Fiji Sugar Corporation mill yard in Lautoka,” she wrote.
“A post mortem was conducted and police had confirmed his death as a case of murder.”
Ms Devi said she identified her husband’s body through a gold chain he was wearing, which she had gifted to him.
“I identified my husband, Salesh Chand’s body from the gold chain that he was wearing as I had gifted it to him.”
She claimed a nurse removed the chain and pendant and handed them to the investigating police officer in the presence of herself and two relatives at Lautoka Hospital.
“This was done in my presence and two of my relatives at the Lautoka Hospital.”
However, after writing to the Commissioner of Police earlier this year requesting the return of the chain, she said she was informed that police had no proof the item was ever in their possession.
“I have now been told by police after their investigation following my complaint that they don’t have any proof that my late husband’s gold chain with the pendant is with them.”
“It’s really sad to know that because the gold chain with pendant was given in front of me and my two relatives to the police officer handling the case.”
Ms Devi said the jewellery held deep sentimental value.
“It was a memory as I had gifted it to him but it’s gone now while my husband’s killer is still at large.”
She acknowledged that, at the time, she was in shock and unaware of the need to request documentation from police regarding the chain.
“Since I was in a state of shock at that time and being unaware of the procedures, I did not ask for any documentation from police.”
Ms Devi said her husband’s case file was later transferred from Lautoka to the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters in Suva, but despite years of inquiries she has received little information.
She also questioned the progress of investigations into the murder despite police establishing a special unit to review cold cases.
“The only thing I want to know from police is whether they’ll be able to solve the case and give me and my now grown up two sons closure or not.”
“To be very honest, it’s 10 years today since Salesh’s body was found and I don’t have any hope that Fiji Police will ever be able to solve the case.”
