Probe Catholic nurse’s death in London: Citizens Rights Trust

December 11, 2012: A rights groups working for the welfare of nurses has urged Indian government to probe the death of a Catholic nurse from Mangalore, who died in London under mysterious circumstances.

“We condemn the death of Jacintha Saldanha and urge the government to bring justice to the bereaved family,” said Sister Jessy Kurian, president of Citizens Rights Trust.

Saldanha was found dead last week after receiving a prank phone call from two radio jockeys (RJs). She is thought to have committed suicide after the Australian RJs telephoned a London hospital pretending to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles.

She put the call through to another nurse who gave the impostors details of the condition of the Duchess of Cambridge, wife of Prince William, who was in the hospital with severe morning sickness.

A memorial service was held on Sunday in Saldanha’s hometown Shirva, Karnataka.

Saldanha, who was married with two teenage daughters, arrived in the United Kingdom nine years ago from Muscat, Oman, where she had worked for three years, the British Observer newspaper said.

Staff at the Father Muller Medical College, where she trained, described her as a “very efficient, intelligent and lively personality.”

Father Richard Coelho, administrator of the college posted a Facebook message saying, “It is really shocking to hear that Jacintha is no more.”