Shimla erupts after gang rape accused ‘killed’ in jail
KOTKHAI CASE Mob sets police station, vehicles ablaze, hurls stones at cops as violent protests rock hill state; accused ‘strangulated’ by another suspect in case
SHIMLA: An accused in the murder and gangrape of a 16-year-old girl in Himachal Pradesh’s Kotkhai died in police custody early Wednesday, triggering violent clashes across the state that saw a mob burn down a police station and pelt stone sat security personnel.
The accused, Nepalese national Surat Singh, was allegedly strangled by another suspect, Rajendra Singh, during a scuffle inside the lock-up around 3am on Wednesday, police said. News of his death sent ripples of anger through the Himalayan state as people shouted slogans, clashed with police and blocked arterial roads, demanding an overhaul of what protesters de em a shoddy probe.
Shimla superintendent of police DW Negi said a fight broke out between Rajendra and Surat around midnight inside the lock up.
“Surat was rushed to hospital where he was declared brought dead ,” said Negi. The gang rape of the minor girl has rocked the pollbound state where such crimes are uncommon. The girl, a Class 10 student, went missing on her way home from school on July 4 and her naked body was found two days later with injury marks. Since then, hundreds of people have come out on the streets to protest in candlelight marches, silent processions and road blockades.
The state government also bowed to increasing public pressure and transferred the case to the CBI.
SHIMLA: As violence spread in Kotkhai town of Shimla district after an accused in the murder and gangrape of a 16-year-old girl died in police custody, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded the Centre immediately impose President’s rule in Himachal Pradesh.
A BJP delegation comprising Union health minister JP Nadda and all four MPs from Himachal, Shanta Kumar, An u rag Th ak ur, Virender Kashyap and Ram Swaroop Sharma met Union home minister Rajnath Singh and submitted a memorandum in this regard on Wednesday.
Veteran leader and former union minister Shanta Kumar said there was a complete breakdown of the law and order in the state and the Congress-led state government was responsible.
“The law enforcing agencies failed to perform their duty in rape and murder of an innocent girl. Instead of arresting the culprits, the police are threatening the protesters,” alleged Shanta.
“We are strongly gunning for President’s rule in Himachal and the recent happenings are enough ground to dismiss the Congress rule,” said Shanta.
Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur alleged that the state government was trying to protect the real culprits and that the police investigation was just eye-wash.
Expressing his concerns, Shimla MP Virender Kashyap said ,“No one is safe; particularly, women and girls are in secure. This Congress government should be dismissed with immediate effect.”
DHUMAL DEMANDS GOVT’S DISMISSAL
Former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal demanded the dismissal of the Congress-led Himachal government in the wake of the deteriorating law and order situation in the hill state. Talking to mediapersons at Hamirpur, the leader of opposition (LoP) said the police and government were trying to shelter the real culprits.
Meanwhile, the opposition has called for a Shimla bandh on Thursday and sit-in protests at headquarters of all 12 districts on Friday to demand justice for the gangrape victim.
CONG JOINS CHORUS
Congress leader and former minister Vijai Singh Mankotia, who has raised the banner of revolt against his own government, has also joined the chorus for President’s rule. “Virbhadra Singh is so engrossed in corruption cases pending against him in courts that he has forgotten he is a chief minister and has to run a state,” said Mankotia.
MIS HANDLING OF PROBE LED TOO UT RAGE: SUKHU
Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief Sukhvinder Sukhu said the Congress party, from day one, has been demanding an impartial probe into the case. “There were some lapses in the police investigation and government should have
looked into it seriously,” he said.
CPM DEMANDS SACKING OF DGP
State secretariat of Communist of India – Marxist (CPM) demanded the sacking of Himachal director general of police (DGP) Somesh Goyal. CPM state secretariat member and former Shimla mayor Sanjay Chauhan said, “People are not ready to believe the theories being propagated by a section of the police. CPM demands that the DGP be sacked immediately for his involvement in manipulating the whole case to protect the cul-
prits,” Chauhan demanded.
GUV SEEKS STATUS REPORT FROM GOVT
Himachal Pradesh governor Acharya Dev Vrat on Wednesday asked the state government to file a report in the gangrape and murder case within two days. In a letter to chief secretary VC Pharka, the governor directed him to file a full report on action being taken in the case. “This is a highly sensitive issue. Government should take action so that people’s faith in the law enforcing agencies remains intact,” wrote the governor.
‘PROBE ORDERED INTO CUSTODIAL DEATH’
MANDI: Chief minister Virbhadra Singh said the government had ordered a probe into the custodial death of an accused in the gangrape and murder case.
“It is learnt that the prime accused in the case beat up the deceased, Suraj, as he had agreed to act as a prosecution witness,” said Virbhadra, while speaking to mediapersons at Padhar in Mandi district. He said the cops on duty at Kotkhai police station had been suspended.
“The government had earlier formed a special investigation team, and later, I personally wrote a letter to the Prime Minister seeking a CBI probe into the case. What more could I have done?” he asked. Blaming the opposition of politicising the matter, Virbhadra also charged the media of flaring up the issue. In wake of the violent situation prevailing in Kotkhai the CM cut short his trip to Mandi and returned to Shimla.