The death of health worker Meera Dalal in Leicester has shocked and saddened the community. Families and friends have been pouring in to pay tribute to the youngster, who took her life at 25, believed to be resulted by the physical and emotional abuses allegedly caused by her Indian-origin ex-boyfriend.
Meera Dalal, 25, was found dead at the property in Syston, Leicestershire, after suffering alleged long-term abuse from her partner, who was reported to the police on a number of occasions but never faced charges. She was even taken to hospital after one particularly brutal beating and told her doctor she had been having suicidal thoughts, the Loughborough hearing was told.
After the abusive relationship ended, she had moved back home to live with her family.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Dalal's grief-stricken father Ashok, who comes from Saroti, Uganda said, “We went to the Coroner's office on Friday, that clarified that Meera did commit suicide. She suffered from physical and emotional abuse, she kept complaining to police, but kept taking the complaints back.
“I have lost my dear girl and it still hurts. I don't think we'll ever get over it. I just can't believe that she's not here any more. She was a very bubbly and happy girl. Always laughing and joking with everybody. Everybody loved her so much and she loved everybody.’
Meera's mother Daksha Dalal, 55, told the BBC that her daughter had complained to police but alleged that her “ex monster boyfriend” had forced Ms Dalal to withdraw her complaint minutes before she took her life.
Meera’s sister, Sonia Hindocha, 29, reportedly said: “I feel like she has been let down by the police. She was so scared but after every incident with the police she retracted her statements and the case was dropped. Meera turned up at my house once and she was so badly beaten yet nothing happened. She was in a vulnerable position but the police never questioned why she kept pulling her statements.”
The death of Meera, who had worked as a liaison officer at a private hospital for Nuffield health in Leicester, had stunned her friends and work colleagues. Sonia added: "They all loved her and had a really good relationship with her and they all knew she loved her job as well."
A substantial police report dating back to 2013 documents a number of alleged incidents reported against Miss Dalal's ex-boyfriend.
A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: 'Following the death of Meera Dalal, the force identified issues in relation to the investigation and consulted the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Following a public complaint in the weeks following her death, the force referred itself to the IPCC, who took this as an independent investigation.'
However, the commission found that there was no case to answer for the four officers involved in the complaint.
IPCC Commissioner Derrick Campbell said: 'My sympathies are with the family of Meera Dalal following their sad loss. We conducted a very thorough investigation and as well as regularly updating the family we have met with them to discuss our findings.’
In a report read out by assistant Carolyn Hull, it stated: “She was seen by one of the doctors and told them she had recently ended her three-year relationship, during which she suffered emotional and physical abuse. She said she had moved back to be with her family and her family were being very supportive.”
Her parents, who have set up a domestic violence awareness campaign in her honour, made a formal complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
In addition, a JustGiving page has raised more than £6,000 for Refuge, a charity that supports women in similar situations to Miss Dalal. Sonia said: “The money goes to Women’s refuge and helps others in a vulnerable position who are going through a similar thing. I wouldn’t want anyone to be in the position we are in, I want women to know that there are so many places they can go and so much help they can get. Don’t suffer in silence because there is so much help and your family is always there.”
A community stalwart, who did not wish to be named from Leicester told Asian Voice,“I feel extremely saddened by this incident. This should not happen to anybody. Can you imagine the grief of the parents who have lost their young daughter? I have known Ashokbhai for years. He was a lively person and loved music. Now he has grown so quiet, it is heartbreaking to watch this family suffer. The community is standing by them in these times of despair...”
