Memories of Aarushi fade as life goes on at Jalvayu Vihar
Nine-and-a-half years later, the memories of 14-year-old girl Aarushi Talwar and domestic servant Hemraj Banjade, have now faded with time. However, neem trees named in the memory of the two are slowly growing in a garden near L32 flat in Jalvayu Vihar, Sector 25, here.
On May 16, 2008, the day Aarushi was found murdered in her residence, everyone living in the locality received a shock. In the following days as the investigation unfolded, every nook and corner of Jalvayu Vihar reverberated with several theories behind the mysterious deaths. Within a few days, even the nation started pondering over theories behind the crime, following intense media coverage.
“People started making their own theories on the incident. On the day she was found dead, Talwar’s domestic help, Hemraj Banjade, was missing and he became the initial suspect. A day later, when his body was discovered on the terrace of their residence, her parents, Dr Rajesh Talwar and Dr Nupur Talwar, became the prime suspects,” said (retired) Commander Narendra Mohan, who has lived in the neighbourhood since 1994.
“Rumours in the locality, different theories behind the double murders, also affected police investigation. Police started believing some select rumours and proceeded into the matter,” said the retired Navy personnel.
However, those who closely know the family could not believe the theory that the doctor couple murdered their only child and the domestic help, he added.
Deepali, a relatively newer resident of Jalvayu Vihar, who owns a house in the same block, said, “When we bought a home two years back in this block, we did not knew that Aarushi lived here, but later came to know about it. But the incident is a thing of past now. Things have changed and no one really talks about it, except the news channels.”
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