Bhatta Kuffer Boils Over: Locals Demand Vigilance Probe as Buildings Collapse, NHAI in Dock, Jai Ram Seeks Minister’s Resignation
Shimla | July 2, 2024
The Bhatta Kuffer tragedy has exploded into a political war.
A day after furious residents assaulted two NHAI officials at the Sanjay Van construction site, the heat has now reached the top political echelons.
While NHAI has filed an FIR at Dhalli Police Station— naming local Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh—the tables have turned with locals and Singh accusing the NHAI-contractor nexus of corruption and dangerous construction practices cutting road vertically outside the acquired width for the project.
Now, Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has jumped into the fray, launching a direct attack on the minister.
> “A minister named in an FIR for assaulting government officers has no moral right to remain in office. He must resign immediately,” Jai Ram thundered.
He alleged that the minister’s conduct was unbecoming of a public servant and demanded a high-level probe into the matter.
> “This is not just hooliganism but a serious law and order issue involving a sitting cabinet minister,” Thakur added.
But Singh was quick to hit back. Holding a fiery press conference in Shimla, the Panchayati Raj Minister did not mince words.
“Jai Ram Thakur was least bothered when people were dying due to landslides caused by this very four-lane project. Where was he when poor families lost their land and homes?
He is shielding the real culprits—NHAI and its corrupt contractors,” Singh shot back.
Residents Demand Action Under Anti-Corruption Law
In parallel, the residents of Sanjay Van and Jawala Mata Road (Bhatta Kuffer) have filed a formal complaint with the Director General of Police, Vigilance, demanding immediate action under the Himachal Pradesh Prevention of Specific Corrupt Practices Act, 1983.
The complaint, running into several pages, accuses:
NHAI officials and Gawar Construction Pvt Ltd of criminal negligence and collusion.
Changing road alignment to benefit powerful individuals.
Using substandard material, leading to collapse of homes.
Ignoring over 800 complaints from residents.
Creating unsafe living conditions due to illegal crushers, landslides, and vertical hill cutting.
Enclosed with the complaint are previous memorandums to the CM, DC, police, and photographic proof of damage (Annexures A & B).
“This is a Syndicate, Not a Project” – Anirudh Singh
Minister Singh alleged that the NHAI and contractors have formed a syndicate working with impunity.
> “Walls have collapsed like cardboard. Hills are cut like slices of bread. From Shimla to Parwanoo, the tragedy is public,” Singh said.
He defended his visit to the protest site, saying he was there to stand with the people, not to incite violence.
> “People have suffered landslides, loss of life, loss of livelihood, but no one from the NHAI ever showed up,” he said.
Locals Want Corruption Clean-Up, Not Scapegoats
The residents are demanding that instead of making Anirudh Singh a scapegoat, the state government must order a full-fledged vigilance and criminal probe against those responsible for:
Violating contract terms,
Using unsafe construction practices,
Ignoring environmental safeguards, and
Colluding to benefit select interests.
They have invoked multiple laws—HP Corrupt Practices Act, IPC (now BNS), Forest and Environmental Acts, and the BNSS—demanding exemplary punishment to the guilty.
Political Heat Rising
With FIRs flying from both sides, political heat is reaching boiling point. While Jai Ram Thakur continues to press for Singh’s resignation, the people of Bhatta Kuffer stand by their minister, who they say is the only one daring to speak truth to power.
Whether justice will be delivered—or whether the issue will be buried like the 800 complaints locals say were ignored—is what the entire state is watching.
