Mandi, April 18:
Anger is spilling onto the streets in Mandi after the cold-blooded murder of college student Siya Guleria, with residents lashing out at the Sukhu government over what they call a “failed and hollow” anti-drug campaign as chitta addiction spirals into violent crime.
The outrage is now squarely aimed at Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, with locals accusing his government of inaction even as drug addicts roam freely and, in this case, allegedly turned into a killer.
The accused in Siya’s murder is reportedly an addict, intensifying fears that the drug crisis is no longer just a health issue—but a direct threat to public safety.
The political heat has also been heaped on Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh, as residents linked the tragedy to the suspension of bus services to Nain village.
According to locals and CPI(M) leader Bhupender Singh, three daily HRTC bus services to Nain–Thana village have been off the roads for the past one month, allegedly due to poor road conditions.
“Had the buses been running, Siya would not have had to walk nearly 1.5 km to Gopalpur to catch transport. That is when she was attacked and brutally killed,” he said.
Villagers claim repeated pleas to local leaders, including Congress representatives and HRTC officials, went unheard. The fallout, they say, is devastating—an innocent life lost and a family shattered.
The incident has triggered a wider backlash against what residents describe as administrative apathy and political indifference.
Despite the area’s political significance—linked to former minister Rangila Ram Rao, ex-MLA Leela Sharma, and considered close to CM’s aide Pawan Thakur—basic services like transport have collapsed, raising serious questions.
Protesters are now demanding immediate restoration of bus services, urgent repair of the road, and strict action against HRTC officials responsible for halting operations.
What Mukesh Agnihotri is doing? Why roads are not be repaired by PWD, the irate villagers seek answer from Vikramaditya Singh and Agnihotri.
More critically, the focus has shifted to the unchecked spread of chitta in the region, with citizens warning that unless the government acts decisively, more innocent lives could be at risk.
“This is not just a murder. This is the collapse of governance,” a local resident said, echoing the growing public fury.
#SiyaGuleria #MandiMurder #ChittaCrisis #HimachalPradesh #JusticeForSiya
