Music in the Valley, to remember Priyadarshini

Fifteen years after she was raped and murdered in Delhi, the concert will be held in Srinagar on Monday in memory of Priyadarshini on her 38th birth anniversary.

"Kashmir is my birthplace. My roots have called me back," 74-year-old C L Mattoo told Newsline.

"I was overwhelmed by the affection from the people. People here have given us so much love; they have stood by us through thick and thin," Mattoo, who earlier worked as Chief Engineer, Public works Department (PWD) in the J-K government, said.

The concert will be followed by a seminar on criminal justice system.

Every year, The Priyadarshini Mattoo Memorial Foundation commemorates her birth anniversary by organising cultural events. And for the first time, since the Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of her murderer Santosh Singh to life imprisonment, the Foundation — set up by the Mattoo family — has decided to commemorate her birth anniversary in Srinagar.

"My daughter has gone. But, we have resolved to fight for justice for her. It would be a deterrent to others. It is necessary for safeguarding the women of India," Mattoo said.

Priyadarshini was born at Karan Nagar area of Srinagar and studied at the Presentation Convent before moving out of the Valley.

The concert will be followed by a seminar titled 'Is Criminal Justice System of India under Collapse? The issues to be discussed will include: Are women of India Safe? Did Priyadarshini Mattoo get justice?

For Mattoo, Priyadarshini denied justice as the Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of her killer.

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