Protests reach Shimla’s Ridge as people allege cover-up in probe
SHIMLA: A day after the Virbhadra government handed the Kotkhai rape and murder case to the CBI, there was no letup in the public outrage against the “botched-up” investigation by the police. Villagers staged a massive protest in Shimla even as government mulled strategies to tackle the public anger.
Left-backed Nagrik Sabha staged a demonstration outside the main square on the historic Mall Road. Protesters marched three km from Sanjauli to the Mall Road before gathering at The Ridge.
They were joined by students and others from the upper areas of the Shimla district before the protest culminated at the office of the deputy commissioner. Demonstrators raised slogans against the police investigations and charged the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the police with shielding the “actual culprits”.
The Nagrik Sabha demanded a probe by a sitting high court judge. “We believe that attempts are being made to shield the actual culprits. Since there are strong rumors that those involved are from influential families, they could further impact the investigations,” said Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, a member of CPIM’s state secretariat.
The police on Saturday convened a high-level meeting to discuss ways to control public anger. The mob had on Friday vandalised public property in Theog.
THERE WERE LAPSES IN PROBE: HP CONG CHIEF
Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh Congress committee president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu welcomed the government decision to refer the case to the CBI.
He also admitted there are lapses in the police probe. “It’s a welcome step that the CM has referred the case to the CBI. I admit that there have been lapses (in the probe) that led to public outcry,” Sukhu said.