KANGRA, Feb 10 — The Kangra police registered a case last evening against three ministers of the Himachal Pradesh and Kangra district Bharatiya Janata Party chief and MLA for allegedly kidnapping and torturing two zila parishad women members on February 4 and detaining them till the zila parishad polls for chairman and vice-chairman were over the next day.

The Station House Officer of Kangra police station, Mr Surinder Singh, confirmed that a case had been registered under Sections 365, 342, 506 and 34 IPC, against Transport Minister Krishen Kapoor, Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ramesh Dhwala, State Minister for Technical Education Ravinder Ravi, Kangra district BJP chief and MLA from Baijnath Dulo Ram.

He said the case was registered on an FIR lodged by Ms Swarna Devi and Ms Punia Devi, zila parishad members from Kuwari and Tharu wards, respectively. They alleged that they were kidnapped by the three ministers and BJP district chief and detained at Hotel Bagsu. They were later shifted to Mandi via Malan at night and tortured too. They alleged that they were let free at Thakur Dawara near Palampur on February 5 at 4 p.m.

Mr Anand Pal Singh, Additional District Police Chief, is investigating the case as four VIPs are involved.

Meanwhile, Mr G.S. Bali, All-India Congress Committee member and MLA from Nagrota Bagwan, today demanded that the three ministers should resign on moral grounds on the pattern of Himachal Vikas Congress chief Sukh Ram. He said if the ministers did not step down, the Chief Minister, Prof P.K. Dhumal, should sack them.