Sectt, Police Hq turn into fortress

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 20

Even as protests continued throughout the day 9 there was a emergency-like situation in the Secretariat and Police Headquarters. The buildings had been cordoned off and all gates locked as a guard against public fury.

The protests and public wrath spilling on to roads during the last few days pushed the government into huddle as not just vehicular but all public movement between the two gates of the Secretariat was stopped from 11 am. Such was the security that even Secretariat employees were not allowed to enter or leave and it was only at 3 pm that the gates were opened.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh remained closeted with his aides, including Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes and Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, in his office in the Secretariat. There were reports that all ministers had been summoned to the capital immediately. He also spoke to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and apprised him about the steps taken by the government.

The Chief Minister, accompanied by Mukesh Agnihotri, went to Raj Bhawan at 11.30 am to meet the Governor. Virbhadra apprised Acharya Devvrat about the steps taken by the police to bring the culprits to book. The Governor is learnt to have asked the CM to get an impartial inquiry into the incident, keeping in view public sentiment. The Governor also conveyed the concern expressed by various social and political organisations, who met him in the aftermath of the rape and murder incident.

The scene was no different at the Police Headquarters at Nigam Vihar where the fear of public fury was evident. A wall of police personnel had been created at the entrance to prevent the angry mob from entering the office, which houses the offices of the DGP and all high-ranking officers. The offices of the DC and SP too remained heavily guarded in anticipation of the protests.

The BJP today gave a call for complete bandh in Shimla. Besides the BJP, some other organisations like the Nagrik Sabha also took out a protest. The Congress has also decided to observe a two-hour Maun Vrat at all block and district headquarters and suspended its Padyatra on July 21.

Amid this rant for justice for the victim and her family, political parties are trying to gain political mileage. Despite the CM requesting the CBI to take over investigation, the necessary action on its part is yet to be taken.

Emergency-like situation

• The buildings had been cordoned off and all gates locked as a guard against public fury
• All public movement between the two gates of the Secretariat was stopped from 11 am
• Such was the security that even Secretariat employees were not allowed to enter or leave and it was only at 3 pm that the gates were opened 
• The offices of DC and SP too remained heavily guarded