CM admits to police lapses in Kasauli murder

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday admitted to lapses which resulted in the killing of assistant town planner Shail Bala who was supervising demolition drive in Kasauli.

Thakur, who also holds the home portfolio, regretted the callousness of the police officials accompanying the team during the drive. “The police present at the site did not act with promptness. Their callousness helped the culprit to flee from the scene of crime. They should have ensured there was no weapon in the building,” Thakur said. The chief minister also assured action against those found guilty of callousness.

SHOT HER FOR REFUSING BRIBE: HOTELIER

DHARAMPUR (SOLAN): The hotel owner accused of killing a woman officer leading a demolition drive against illegal constructions in Himachal Pradesh’s Kasauli town has said he shot her “out of anger” after she refused to accept a bribe, people familiar with the development said on Friday.

Vijay Singh allegedly chased and shot at assistant town and country planner Shail Bala Sharma after an argument over the demolition of the unauthorised construction in his Narayani Guest House.

“I requested the authority to spare my building but the team wanted to demolish it,” Singh was quoted as saying by a police officer, who is a part of the interrogation team.