While many celebrated Mother’s Day yesterday, Champa Seenarine grieved, still wondering about the fate of her daughter Babita Sarjou who vanished without a trace almost six years ago but there is some hope as the police have reopened investigations into the matter.
On the eve of Diwali, November 4, 2010, the then 28-year-old Sarjou left her Timehri home having informed her family that after work, she was going to view the annual motorcade with her estranged husband and four-year-old son. She promised she would be back home at around 9 that night. She was never seen or heard from again.
Speaking to Stabroek News recently, Seenarine said her agony grows every day as she thinks of the matter. She seeks closure and is pleading with anyone who knows something to have a heart and speak out. The woman related that as each day goes by, she tries to muster the courage and patience that will allow her to believe one day she will be able to find answers and closure.
Many days, Seenarine said, she would sit down and cry as she thinks of Babita and what possibly transpired on the night she vanished. Every corner of the house is filled with memories of the missing woman.
Since Sarjou’s disappearance, the Caribbean American Domestic Violence Awareness (CADVA) association has been working closely with her family to advocate reopening the investigation.
Reopening investigation
Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan told Stabroek News recently that he was aware that the police were facing difficulties locating the file and as a result, he had asked Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud to reopen the investigation. This, Ramjattan said, will take some time since the police will have to collect statements all over again but he hopes people will come forward and provide statements that will take the case further.
Upon hearing this, Seenarine said she is confident that Sarjou will receive justice. She pointed out that a number of cold cases are now being solved and she is hoping that her daughter’s case will be among them. She is of the opinion that if the police thoroughly investigate the matter and re-arrest some persons for questioning, including Sarjou’s husband, there will be some progress.
Seenarine said she is quite aware that all this cannot happen immediately but she is ready to be patient.
She is convinced that whether her daughter is alive or dead, there is someone out there who knows something. The distraught mother is also the grandmother of Babita’s son, who is now ten years old. She has not seen him for years.
According to Seenarine, whenever she misses Sarjou, she would look at her photo. She also has to do this when she misses her grandson, whom she is not allowed to visit.
“Many days I does wish I can go and see him but I have to fear the worst may follow too because when my other daughter go to visit the child, he would not speak to us because it’s like he grew up and learnt not to have a relationship with us,” Seenarine said as she broke down in tears.
“…what hurts more is the fact that Babita’s husband lives with another woman who her child is probably forced to call his mother without knowing the truth,” she added.
