Teacher's murder: JJP's Digvijay Chautala hits out at Haryana CM Saini over delay in justice in Bhiwani case

Hitting out at Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) leader Digvijay Chautala alleged that the police were not being given a ‘free hand’ causing delay in justice in the murder case of schoolteacher Manisha (19).

A resident of Dhani Laxman village in Bhiwani district, she had gone missing from her residence on August 11 and her body, with her throat slit, was found near a canal in Singhani village of the district on August 13. The police have failed to arrest or identify the killers. Besides, the motive behind the murder is unknown.

The Haryana Government transferred Bhiwani SP Manbir Singh and suspended five police personnel, including the SHO of Loharu police station, for alleged negligence in the matter.

Digvijay strongly criticised the state government while comparing the incident to the Nirbhaya case of Delhi. He said that he felt deeply ashamed and that the entire society shared the same pain. He alleged that Chief Minister Saini was more concerned about following directions from Delhi than ensuring justice in Haryana while taking an indirect dig that he was not strong enough to take decisions.

“The Chief Minister has failed to give a free hand to the police, otherwise justice should have been delivered to Manisha by now,” he said, urging the Chief Minister to learn from leaders like Chaudhary Devi Lal, Om Prakash Chautala, Bhajan Lal and Bansi Lal, who were known for their strong administrative grip.

He further alleged that instead of standing with the people, the Chief Minister remained confined to his office and making frequent flying visits in chopper. He said the hurried transfer of the Bhiwani SP indicated that the government might attempt to give a different colour to the case.

Chautala warned that the people of Haryana had taken the responsibility of securing justice for Manisha on their shoulders and would not allow the case to be hushed up by arresting others, instead of the real accused. He called Haryana DGP Shatrujit Kapoor a capable officer adding that police were not being given freedom to act.

He said that despite suspensions and transfers, justice had not been served even five days after the incident. He demanded that the Chief Minister should apologise to the people of Haryana and act decisively to bring the culprits to justice.