Protest erupts over youth’s murder, highway blocked
Residents of Salyana panchayat in Panchrukhi tehsil staged a massive protest at Salyana Chowk, blocking the Palampur-Jaisinghpur highway with the body of Pankaj Kumar, demanding justice for his murder. Pankaj had been missing for 26 days, and his decomposed body was found in a gorge near Jwalamukhi, 50 km away, the previous day.
His family had filed a missing person’s complaint at the Panchrukhi police station but alleged that the authorities ignored their pleas for action. The protesters accused the police of inaction due to political pressure, despite naming the suspects in their complaint.
According to the victim’s family, Pankaj was lured to a location on January 18 under a pre-planned conspiracy and murdered. His motorcycle was discovered abandoned 200 meters from the village the next day. The family believes that a local family orchestrated the crime because Pankaj was involved in a relationship with a girl from that household.
When Pankaj’s body was brought to the village after a postmortem at Tanda Medical College, hundreds of residents gathered and carried it to Salyana Chowk, where they blocked the highway in protest. They raised slogans against the government and demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits.
In response, Palampur SDM Netra Meti and DSP Anil Sharma reached the protest site to pacify the agitated crowd. Following their intervention, a case under Section 302 of the IPC was registered at Panchrukhi police station. The police subsequently arrested three individuals for their alleged involvement in the crime.
Additionally, a police constable suspected of shielding the culprits was sent to the police lines. Officials stated that if his involvement was confirmed, departmental action would be taken against him.
After assurances from the SDM and DSP, the villagers lifted the blockade, restoring traffic on the highway. Pankaj’s body was cremated under tight police security.
The family remains adamant that Pankaj’s murder was a result of a deep-rooted conspiracy. They demand a thorough investigation, alleging police negligence and political interference in the case.
