A furious mob unleashed chaos as they set fire to the residence of Musafir Hussain, a murder accused in Chamba, triggering authorities to enforce strict prohibitory orders in a bid to curb further unrest, according to PTI.
Chamba's Superintendent of Police, Abhishek Yadav, confirmed that no casualties occurred during the incident. Disturbing viral videos captured the mob forcefully breaching police barricades.
Musafir Hussain, currently incarcerated, stands accused of killing Manohar, a 28-year-old man who allegedly happened to be the uncle of a minor girl with whom Hussain was reportedly involved romantically. It is alleged that Hussain lured Manohar to his house, savagely beating him with a stick until he lost consciousness. Shockingly, he then dismembered the victim's body into eight pieces and disposed of them in a nearby drain.
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Despite the presence of law enforcement, an unruly crowd managed to infiltrate Hussain's residence and reduced it to ashes. Concerned about the situation escalating further, district authorities issued prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code) for a duration of two months, limiting people's movements in Chamba's Salooni area.
The remains of Manohar's body were discovered in a drain in Bandal panchayat of Salooni on June 8, two days after he had been reported missing. As a result, the police apprehended three individuals, including Hussain. The other two suspects have been identified as Farida, Hussain's wife, and a person named Shabir.
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Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed his dismay over the tragic killing and the subsequent destruction of the accused's house, deeming it incompatible with the state's cherished "Dev Sanskriti" (divine culture). He assured the public that the culprits had already been arrested and expressed no objections if the opposition called for an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
However, Sukhu urged the opposition BJP not to exploit the sensitive matter for political gains, emphasizing the need to maintain harmony instead. The Chief Minister conducted a comprehensive review of the law and order situation, convening a meeting with deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to ensure heightened vigilance.
Leader of the Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, accompanied by state BJP chief Rajiv Bindal, plans to visit the victim's family on Friday, demanding an NIA investigation into the murder. Both the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have appealed to the public to uphold communal harmony in the wake of this distressing incident.
