Kasauli firing death: Probe indicts police
SHIMLA: A magisterial probe into the killing of a woman town planner, supervising a demolition drive on May 1 in Kasauli, has revealed major lapses “on part of the police.”
Shimla divisional commissioner Shimla, who conducted a detailed inquiry into the killing of the assistant town planner Shail Bala Sharma, on Thursday submitted his report to additional chief secretary, home, BK Aggarwal.
In the 130-page report, the divisional commissioner has indicted cops and the local administration officials for lapses that led to killing of Sharma, who was shot by a guest house owner, Vijay Singh.
Vijay had also fired at a PWD staffer Gulab Singh, who was part of the drive being held to demolish unauthorised constructions of hotels at the tourist town of Kasauli .
Gulab Singh succumbed to his injuries at the PGIMER in Chandigarh after 10 days.
Vijay managed to flee the scene of crime as the cops on duty failed to act.
Vijay was later arrested from Mathura in a joint operation conducted by Himachal Police and Delhi Police Crime Branch.
“More details of the report will be out once it is submitted to chief minister Jai Ram Thakur” said an official of the home department, pleading anonymity. Thakur also holds the home portfolio.
The chief minister had asked the divisional commissioner to conduct the probe after the killing of the assistant town planner.
The commissioner was told to inquire into all relevant aspects related to the case.
At a review meeting of the home department two days ago, the chief minister pulled up officials of the police department and termed the killing of a woman town planner in Kasauli as a ‘blot’ on their functioning.