FAMILY RIFT

Husband of tragic mum Seema Banu wants to bury her and kids in Ireland as family in India devastated

3 Nov 2020, 7:30

THE devastated family of Seema Banu have been told by her  husband that he wants to bury her and her two kids in Ireland.

But the tragic mum’s parents and siblings want her remains — along with children Asfira Riza, 11, and son Faizan Syed, six —  to return home to India.

Speaking to the Irish Sun yesterday, Seema’s cousin Sufi Masood Hussain insisted: “Our family here do not want this. We’re extremely hurt.”

A murder investigation continues and gardai have said they continue to examine “all circumstances of the events” after the post-mortems of the trio were completed on Friday.  

Their bodies were found at their  home, in Ballinteer,  Dublin, last Wednesday with signs of strangulation, but gardai won’t release details for “operational reasons”.  

Seema’s husband Sameer Syed, who is devastated at their passing, did not live with her or the kids.

Yesterday, he made contact with Seema’s family in India.

Seema’s cousin Sufi explained: “Sameer wants to bury them in Ireland. He does not want to send the bodies to India. Our family here does not want this.”

And he told of the pain of Seema’s dad Abdul Ghaffar and mum Qurishid-un-nisa, who just want to reunite with their daughter and grandkids again before they are buried.

‘EXTREMELY HURT’

Speaking yesterday from the Mysore district in Karnataka state, in southwest India, Sufi told us: “Our family is extremely hurt. It’s been five days since we  learned of Seema’s death but her parents have not even seen her face or the children’s face once.

“I seriously cannot express how much Seema’s family are hurting with all the things happening.

“They are in deep pain as they are not able to do their last rights and fulfil their rightful duties as parents.”

He added: “The family wants to do it in India as there will be multiple religious prayers and they want to have the grave nearby also as they can visit whenever possible.

“This will never happen if this happens and they stay in Ireland. Seema’s parents will never get to Ireland in their lifetime.

“They at least expected to complete Seema and the kid’s funeral and last rites. Now there’s no hope for that.”

‘BEGGING WITH AUTHORITIES’

Seema’s family are trying to get the authorities’ help in establishing if they can have a say in the situation.

Sufi said: “We are begging with authorities to help them see the faces of Seema and kids at least once.”

Seema’s family are in contact with the Indian Embassy in Dublin.