8 yrs after mum’s murder, little Aahana passes away

MUMBAI: The little girl with cerebral palsy, Aahana, whose plight had moved the entire nation in 2008, when her mother Anindita Misra (31) was murdered by a crazed colleague, passed away on Thursday at Nabadwip in West Bengal.
Aahana (13), who was moved back to West Bengal in 2009 by her grandparents after her mother’s death, stopped breathing at 5.40pm on Thursday.Her grandmother Purnima Goswami, who was taking care of Aahana for the last eight years, told TOI: “Despite suffering from acute dystonic cerebral palsy since birth, and losing her mother (Anindita) who meant everything to her, Aahana was a very brave girl. She coped with all the physical and emotional pain for the last so many years, and has now gone to God’s home. My doll has left me.”
Several film stars and celebrities like actor Aamir Khan, singer Sonu Nigam, his wife Madhurima and numerologist Sanjay B Jumaani, were among those who had financially contributed for Aahana’s treatment over the years since October 16, 2008, when her mother was stabbed to death outside the Reliance Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City, near Koparkhairane railway station.
Aahana’s condition especially deteriorated in the last three years and she made several trips to hospitals due to severe chest congestion, ulcers in the stomach and breathing problems. Anindita, a single parent, worked at Reliance ADAG in Navi Mumbai and her murder effectively orphaned Aahana.
Even the Navi Mumbai police officials who had investigated the murder case and caught the prime accused, Jacob Pinto, had contributed through a police welfare fund for Aahana at that time. Pinto, however, was later acquitted by the court and the victim’s kin had also not pursued the legal matter as they were solely concentrating on Aahana’s treatment in West Bengal.
“It is sad that Aahana is no more now. Over the years, we had made a special connection with her; God’s will has prevailed,” said numerologist, Jumaani.
The final rites were performed at Nabadwip on Friday by Goswami and other family members. “I thank all those people who had come forward and financially helped Aahana after reading about her story in the media. Although Aahana could not normally communicate because of her disability, I could make out how terribly she missed her mother ever since she did not return home from office on the night of October 16, 2008. May she be in peace now,” said Goswami.