Family releases missives ahead of his body’s arrival tomorrow
As the body of 19-year-old Manchester student Souvik Pal, recovered from an Old Trafford canal three weeks after he went missing on New Years’ Eve, is awaited on Thursday, his family has shared with The Hindu letters exchanged between his mother Mahuya Pal and Manchester investigating officer Kevin Graham.
A series of emails sent by Ms. Pal throw light on just how much trauma the family went through for over 20 days as they waited for news of their missing son. In a letter dated January 18 to Mr. Graham of the Serious Collisions Investigations Unit, Ms. Pal writes: “I am extremely depressed ever since Souvik is missing. I really cannot express the unbearable pain I am carrying for the last 18 days. Throughout all these sleepless nights I am tired of constantly thinking of my child’s safety.”
Minute details
Ms. Mahuya asks the investigator to “understand her never-ending trauma” as she awaits updates and requests for minute details on the investigation. “Kindly let me know when can I meet my child and where is he? Kevin, if you have any child like Souvik in your family, I hope you can understand. All my hopes are pinned only on the Manchester police. Please help me to locate my child.”
She also sought the CCTV footage of her son at the nightclub where he was last seen alive. The investigators did send the family pictures of their son taken on the night before he left the university.
Local issue
In a detailed letter to the mother, the investigating officer explains that the case is being seen as a “local issue”. In one email, the officer Mr. Graham takes exception to the mother calling the investigators “clueless” and he explains that a dedicated team is pursuing the enquiry with dedication. It also clarifies that the investigation is not a criminal inquiry but a search for a missing person, while declining requests to put surveillance on friends of her son.
