Liga’s sister disputes Kerala Police claim

Latvian national Ilze Skromane has stuck firm to her belief that her sister Liga Skromane would not have committed suicide and that there were people involved in her death.

A body found recently at a mangrove here is presumed to be that of Liga.

Ms. Skromane, who, along with Liga’s partner Andrew Jordan, appealed to the police against “jumping into conclusions” and dismissing the death on natural causes. Referring to reports that speculated that Liga could have died after consuming the poisonous fruit Cerbera odollam (othalanga), Mr. Jordan said, “we are quite sure this was not an accident or suicide and the story of the poisonous fruit is a half-baked tale. The jumper recovered from near the body does not belong to Liga, whose shoes were incidentally missing,” he said.

Ms. Skromane, who retraced the possible routes that Liga could have taken from the Kovalam beach to where the body was found, said she could not have arrived at the spot without assistance. She said her sister had not been suicidal as was being claimed. “Liga had made two suicide attempts. But, she had improved considerably after she began Ayurveda therapy,” Ms. Skromane said.

She alleged that the police were lackadaisical in their approach. “The special investigation team was formed on the 10th day after my sister went missing. Going by the preliminary findings that she could have died at least a month ago, the police had acted when she was no longer with us any more,” Ms. Skromane said.

They said they were not provided an opportunity to meet the Chief Minister. India was safe as any other place and the people here extended all help.

Founder of NGO Jwala Foundation Aswathy Nair accused the State of offering little support. She alleged that both Ilze and Andrew were harshly treated by the police, including the State Police Chief. Meanwhile, State Police Chief Loknath Behera said the police spared no efforts in investigating the case. He regarded the case as a “challenge for Kerala Police” and was concerned as a professional investigator himself.