KASAULI KILLING: SP AMONG 14 OFFICIALS SUSPENDED
The Himachal government has suspended then Solan SP Mohit Chawla and 13 other officials for failing to protect assistant town planner Shail Bala Sharma who was killed during a demolition drive Kasauli on May 1. The government has also suspended then DSP Ramesh Sharma, two SHOs and other cops.
SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government has suspended then Solan superintendent of police (SP) Mohit Chawla and 13 other officials for dereliction of duty in failing to protect assistant town planner Shail Bala Sharma who was killed during a demolition drive Kasauli on May 1.
The government has also suspended then Solan deputy superintendent of police Ramesh Sharma, station house officers (SHOs) of Dharampur and Parwanoo and naib tehsildar, Kasauli. Five cops who accompanied the team during the demolition drive have also been placed under suspension.
Cops have been suspended for laxity in their duty, additional chief secretary (home) BK Aggarwal said.
“There was thorough lack of professionalism as the police did not take adequate steps for executing such big demolition drive in which 14 structures were to be demolished,” he said.
‘MAJOR POLICE LAPSES’
Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur’s action came following the 133 page magisterial probe, conducted by Shimla divisional commissioner Dinesh Malhotra. The probe clearly mentions about the laxity by the cops.
During the course of inquiry, the divisional commissioner also recorded the statements of the 18 witnesses who were present at the spot when Vijay Singh owner of Narayani Guest House shot dead assistant town planner Shail Bala Sharma and another bullet hit PWD worker Gulab Singh who later died at PGIMER, Chandigarh. The report points out that the team of officers being led by Shail Bala Sharma was being assisted by 14 cops, including two personnels from quick response team. Besides, them two other officials also accompanied the team.
Report pointed towards major police lapses. It mentioned that staion house officer and other 14 cops in the team were unarmed and were only carrying sticks and shields. The report raises questions on the part of inspector and assistant sub-inspector as to why they did not carry service revolvers during the demolition drive.
It mentiones that two personnel from the quick response team assisting the demolition drive were armed with the assualt rifle AK- 47 but did not fire from the weapon when required.
The report puts question mark on the polices’ functioning and stating as to why the police did not detain the owners of Narayani Guest House and Hotel Shivalik View who threatened police of dire consequences. Further, the probe report questiones the role of police high ups. The reports points that police dithered to take action against both the hotel owners.