SHIMLA/CHAMBA - Chamba town witnessed massive protests today as residents demanded swift and stern action against the accused in the gruesome murder of 21-year-old Dalit boy, Manohar Lal, in the Sanghani Kihar area of Salooni sub-division which remained out of bar for the 'outside leaders' due to Section 144 imposed by the district Collector on Thursday.
The incident, which took place on June 6, has sparked widespread anger and dismay, with pictures and posts of the demonstrations going viral on social media.
The Bjp Staged Protests in all districts and raised the antiSukhu government slogans.
The public is seeking justice for the victim and demanding stringent punishment for all those involved, exposing the alleged conspiracy hatched by three individuals from a particular community.
In addition to justice for Manohar, BJP leaders are also calling for an investigation into the financial transactions of the main accused, Shabir Ali.
They are questioning how Ali managed to amass crores of rupees and acquire a significant amount of land in his native village. However, the District Administration of Chamba prevented Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and BJP President Dr. Rajeev Bindal from visiting the victim's family in Salooni, citing security reasons and the imposition of Section 144 to maintain peace in the area.
District Collector Apoorv Devgan had imposed Section 144 in Sanghani Kihar of Salooni sub-division for 60 days Thursday to maintain peace in the region.
BJP claims that the gravity of the situation warrants a thorough investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), as the main culprits are yet to be brought to justice.
Enraged locals had set fire to the house of the main accused, Shabir, although it was empty at the time.
The murder case came to light when Chamba police discovered the mutilated body of Manohar Lal in a drain six days ago.
Three suspects, identified as Shabir Ali, Shaukat, and Muzaffar Hussain, have been arrested in connection with the crime.
While the police suspect that a "love affair" may have been the motive behind the murder, the investigation is still ongoing.
However, there are allegations of a possible "terror angle" in the case, with the opposition BJP demanding an NIA investigation to expose the alleged connections between the incident and the Salooni region's troubled history, bordering the terrorism-infested region of Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has appealed for peace and assured the public that the police investigation is progressing actively.
He has urged the BJP not to politicize the case, as the suspects are already in custody, and the investigation is heading in the right direction.
Chief Minister emphasized that the police have maintained strict vigilance to uphold law and order in their respective districts.
Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur expressed deep concern and demanded a comprehensive probe into the entire case and the way the government has not allowed them to heal the wounds of the victim’s family as CM himself did not pay a visit to the area.
He raised questions about the accused amassing Rs 2 crore in his bank account and acquiring land totaling 100 bighas, insisting that only an NIA investigation can bring out the truth.
The horrific murder of the Hindu Dalit boy, whose body was found dismembered in a drain, has shaken the community. Jairam Thakur said tthe BJP hold statewide protests in all districts on June 17.
The incident has ignited public anger and raised serious concerns about the safety of marginalized Dalit community.
The demand for justice and a thorough investigation into the murder continues to grow, putting pressure on the authorities to act swiftly and bring the perpetrators to justice.
