MANDI: A gruesome daylight murder of a 19-year-old college student in Sarkaghat subdivision of Mandi has shaken Himachal Pradesh, triggering outrage across the state and raising serious questions over women’s safety.
The incident occurred Monday morning around 9:15 am in the Gopalpur area when the girl was on her way to college. According to initial reports, unidentified assailants attacked her on the road and slit her throat before fleeing the spot, leaving the locality in shock.
Police have launched a manhunt and suspect the involvement of two youth who were reportedly on a motorcycle.
Multiple teams are scanning CCTV footage from nearby areas, and officials have assured that the accused will be apprehended soon.
The brutal nature of the killing in broad daylight has rattled public confidence, especially among families sending their daughters for education.
Locals poured out in anger, demanding immediate arrests and fast-track trial to ensure justice for the victim.
Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur termed the incident “deeply disturbing,” saying such barbarity is unimaginable in Dev Bhoomi. “The mind is shaken thinking what happened to the daughter in Sarkaghat. This is not just a crime, it is a blot on the state,” he told media.
He further questioned the deteriorating law and order situation, alleging that instead of promptly arresting the accused, police were seen restricting locals and family members at the crime scene.
“How have criminals become so emboldened in a state once considered safe?” he asked.
Anger is also brewing over what many described as the government’s “mute spectator” approach, with residents demanding accountability and visible action on the ground.
Civil society groups and local residents have called for exemplary punishment to the perpetrators, saying the case must serve as a deterrent against rising crimes targeting women.
Meanwhile, a pall of grief hangs over the victim’s family, with prayers pouring in across the state for the departed soul and strength for the bereaved family to endure the irreparable loss.
