Parents select December 27 as Ayesha Meera Remembrance Day

Parents of B Pharmacy student Ayesha Meera, who was allegedly murdered 18 years ago in a women’s hostel in Vijayawada, on Saturday said they were annoyed with the investigation conducted so far and had lost hope of justice.

Seventeen-year-old Syed Ayesha Meera, a native of Tenali, was found dead at the Sri Durga Ladies Hostel in Ibrahimpatnam on December 27, 2007.

The victim’s parents, Syed Yaqbal Basha and Samshad Begum, urged the government to declare December 27 as Ayesha Meera Samsmarana Dinotsavam, return their daughter’s remains and set up a charitable foundation in her name.

Mr Basha and his wife submitted a proposal to Rayapati Sailaja, chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Mahila Commission, seeking consideration of their demands.

Leaders of Mahila Sanghams and various rights organizations extended their support to the parents.

During her speech, Ms Samshad Begum criticized successive governments and the police for what she termed a botched investigation over the past eighteen years. The inability to solve the case, the parents said, was a reflection of poor safety for women in the state.