Murder of Dalit woman rocks HP Assembly

Dhumal announced that an impartial investigations would be conducted by the police within two months and the Additional Director General of Police would personally monitor the investigations. The CM, who did not rule out connivance of the local police, ordered that action would also be taken against the officials, if any, who were deliberately try to hamper an impartial probe. He sanctioned a special relief of Rs 50,000 to the bereaved family and assured the House that victim’s husband would be provided all possible help and protection from the police.

Dhumal said seven persons, including five women had been arrested by the police and remanded to judicial custody. Main accused Om Raj, a serving Army personnel is, however, still at large and Superintendent of Police Kangra was taking all steps to arrest him.

The issue, raised by Krishna Mohini (Cong) through a call attention motion, received overwhelming support from the fellow MLAs, with many calling for strong and immediate action against the culprits. Mohini, quoting from a newspaper report, alleged that Shakina Devi (32), who belonged to a Scheduled Caste community, was tied to a tree before she was murdered. She was stripped naked and her breasts were cut into pieces. She was beaten up brutally by 10 to 15 persons and later set on fire. Mohini described the incident as the first of its kind in the history of Himachal and sought immediate action against the culprits.

A senior BJP MLA Rikhi Ram Kaundal, who also drew attention of the Chief Minister towards a land dispute of the victim’s family with members of the other community, held the local police responsible for the gruesome murder. Kaundal claimed that the victim was related to him and had been running from pillar to post during the past five years to seek police protection and justice, but the administration and the local police at Jwalamukhi ignored her.

Earlier, G. S. Bali (Cong) condemning the incident charged Kangra district police with negligence and connivance. “The entire police set up in Kangra has become ineffective and the lives of people are in danger,” he alleged and suggested that there be an independent probe into the murder without involving the Kangra police. Replying to the issue, the Chief Minister admitted that the post mortem report confirmed burn injuries but so far, there was no evidence of her body being cut into pieces before she was allegedly set afire.

He said that the victim and her husband Ramesh Chand had a land dispute with Premi Devi, who belonged to Rajput community.He agreed with Kaundal that Premi Devi, assisted by others, used to harass Ramesh Chand and on one occasion the victim was also beaten up by Premi Devi’s son and later her buffalo was also allegedly poisoned by the accused family. Separate FIRs were registered at Jwalamukhi police station. Attempts were also made to set Ramesh Chand’s house on fire. There were allegations about complicity of some panchayat officials too, he said.Assuring the House of stern action, Dhumal said the accused had been booked for murder and also under the Atrocities on Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribes (Prevention) Act.