UNITES on HP murder
By Yasmin Ahmed

Pratibha Murthy was a young woman, married and on the threshold of a happy life, who was raped and murdered on Dec 12, 2005. She was returning from a night shift at the call centre she worked in and the accused is the driver of the cab company employed by HP for transport of their employees.

The case has run on for four years without resolution, and the judges in the case have been changed four times since the matter came to the judicial system.  The Indian media and Bangalore city have launched a campaign to get justice to the victim. And Hewlett Packard, for whom Pratibha had been working, has joined the call for justice, after a long silence. UNITES Professionals, the collective voice of the IT/BPO people of India has circulated this press release about the issue.

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Hewlett-Packard, the company Pratibha Murthy was working when she was gruesomely raped and murdered in 2005, on Friday (January 8, 2010) said they want justice to be delivered fast. Extending support to Prathibha’s family, they have said that their deepest sympathies are with the family, and the judicial process must ensure a speedy trial. (The relevant video can be seen at this link)

We at UNITES mourned the death of Pratibha Murthy and are encouraged that HP is asking for justice though little late that is after four years. We would like to draw your attention that we had supported this campaign and had also got full support from media in return and we are happy even this time the change of heart in HP is due to Media's effort.

We strongly condemn HP's inability to provide security to their employees and by supporting the demand for justice in Prathibha Murthy case, HP Company should not escape trial in this case. As per the Shops and Establishment Act (modified) it is employer’s responsibility to provide security for women who work in the night.

If a similar incident had happened in United States or Europe our belief is HP Company would not have reacted in a similar manner. In this regard we request the intervention of NASSCOM, which has Mr. Som Mittal who was the head of HP when the unfortunate incident took place to come out with a clear direction towards HP Company in consultation with Information Technology Ministry (Center & State).

Regards
Karthik Shekhar
General Secretary
UNITES Professionals, India,

Justice delayed is justice denied; let’s just hope it is not delayed any further.
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