FWCC calls for an investigation into how police handled the case of man involved in murder-suicide

The Fiji Women’s Crisis Center is calling for an immediate investigation into Nadi police’s handling of the case of Latchman Krishna, who killed his wife and then took his own life last Friday.

FWCC coordinator Shamima Ali says Latchman Krishna was reportedly arrested last Wednesday for criminally intimidating his wife, and police decided to release him last Thursday afternoon after holding him overnight.

Ali claims that the police told Krishna to return home but stay in separate bedrooms

Ali states that he believes that the police’s botched handling of the case led to Artika Kumari’s murder.

She says this highlights the need for systemic reform and better training within police forces to ensure all officers are equipped to deal with domestic violence cases effectively and sensitively.

The coordinator says the police should take this issue seriously, especially as they grapple with the epidemic of domestic violence against women, which has resulted in women in Fiji being murdered, tortured and assaulted.

It says laws protecting women and children from domestic violence can only be effective if police officers respond to such cases urgently and effectively.

Ali says the law allows a person to apply for a domestic violence restraining order and such applications must be dealt with urgently, at any time of the day or night.

She says police need to know how to obtain restraining orders against women who raise concerns about domestic violence, but this isn’t happening.

The coordinator says many police officers are unable to effectively investigate violence against women and girls.

She says they lack the training and knowledge to properly handle such cases, which poses a serious challenge to victims seeking justice.

Ali says there is a reluctance to deal with domestic violence due to a patriarchal mindset, and this attitude often stems from the police themselves.

The coordinator claims that many police officers are themselves perpetrators of domestic violence, which is why they are reluctant to investigate cases.

She says police officers need ongoing training on violence against women, girls and human rights to understand the dynamics and the need to receive this training from experts like FWCC who are primarily concerned with dealing with violence against women and girls.

The national domestic violence helpline number is 1560 and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is free to call from any network.