A grim shadow cast over Himachal Pradesh after the brutal murder of a 28-year-old local herder whose chopped remains were recovered from a drain in Chamba district. Mobs burned down houses and protests gripped the hill state and a political war started between the Sukhvinder Sukhu-led government and the opposing BJP.
The main accused Musafir Hussain and his wife, along with a third accused Shabir were subsequently arrested, the police said.
On Saturday, the BJP staged demonstrations across the state, demanding an NIA probe into the murder. The party also submitted a memorandum to Himachal Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla through deputy commissioners in each of the state's 12 districts. Rajiv Bindal, the BJP's state unit chief who submitted the memorandum in Sirmaur district, also demanded the constitution of a special investigations team to probe into cases of people going missing.
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The BJP has also sought a departmental inquiry into the encroachment of government lands by the main accused and financial assistance to the victim's family, it said in a statement.
Criticising the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led state government, the BJP accused the administration of obstructing Opposition leaders, including the Leader of Opposition (LoP) and former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, from entering Salooni in Chamba to meet the victim's family.
In Dharamshala, the BJP's Kangra district chief Chandrabhushan Nag alleged that incidents of anarchy and hooliganism increase whenever the Congress government comes to power. He pointed out that the "Gudiya" rape-and-murder case occurred during the previous Congress regime, adding that both cases disturbed the peace in Devbhoomi.
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Nag emphasised the need for a National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigation, citing the suspicious background of the main accused who allegedly owns substantial property and faces allegations of encroachment on government land.
In the statement, the BJP claimed that villagers had accused Hussain of encroaching on 100 bighas of government land. The party also cautioned that it would launch a statewide agitation if the accused is not given severe punishment.
Violence In Salooni Town
Panic struck in the Salooni town of Chamba when a mob, earlier this week, burned down the house of the accused Musafir Hussain. The mob broke into his house and set it on fire despite police deployment.
The district authorities in Chamba imposed prohibitory orders to prevent further flare-ups in the Salooni subdivision. Avinash Rai Khanna, the BJP's state in-charge wrote to the National Human Rights Commission chairman and requested him to take cognizance of the incident and provide compensation to the victim's family.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu blamed the BJP and said the furore it created over the murder case in Chamba district is unjustified as all accused have been apprehended and are in custody.
Meanwhile, Governor Shukla said in a statement that such incidents in the peace-loving state of Himachal Pradesh were highly condemnable, He appealed to people to maintain peace and avoid taking law and order into their hands.
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As It Happened
The chopped body of Manohar Lal, a resident of Bhandal village, was found in a drain in the Bandal panchayat of Salooni subdivision on June 8, two days after he went missing. According to reports, Musafir killed him over an alleged affair with his niece.
A couple was among three people arrested on June 13. Meanwhile, police also arrested others involved in torching and violence in the district.
The incident has sparked outrage in the otherwise peaceful state of Himachal Pradesh. Locals have demanded swift justice for the victim. An investigation is underway to find more details about the killing.
