Submit report in two days: Guv to govt

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 19 

Taking a serious note of the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl from Kotkhai, Governor Acharya Devvrat today sought report from the state government within two days on the action being taken to bring the culprits to book. 

Even as Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh cut short his Mandi visit to return to the state capital in view of the latest developments, Raj Bhawan sought a detailed reply and summoned Director General of Police Somesh Goyal to get the details of the investigation and action taken.

“With the nature of the crime being very sensitive, public belief and sentiment have been hurt. Such steps should be taken which will help restore the faith of the people and help in bringing the situation under control,” the letter read.  The Governor also conveyed his concern over the death of one of the suspects in the police custody which has made the case even more serious and sensitive.

The Governor said representatives of various sections of society met him, expressing concern and seeking his intervention in this matter. “The government should take stern action immediately and take steps to check the resentment arising out of this crime so that people’s faith in the law and order is  restored,” the Governor said. 

Chief Parliamentary Secretary Rohit Thakur, who is also the local MLA from Jubbal-Kotkhai, demanded a judicial inquiry by the human rights commission into the rape and murder of the girl. “The custodial death of an accused in the police lock-up at Kotkhai is  a major blow to the ongoing probe,” he said. 

Thakur went to the extent of urging the Chief Minister not to hesitate to take tough action against officials. 

Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu also expressed concern over the death of a suspect and urged the CM to ensure that there was no laxity in the investigation. “The BJP is playing politics and despite the CM writing to the Centre to hand over the case to CBI, there had been no response so far,” he said.