Custody death, Kotkhai on boil

Bhanu P Lohumi 

Tribune News Service

Kotkhai (Shimla), July 19

An irate mob went on a rampage today, ransacking the police station in Kotkhai (60 km from Shimla) and setting it afire after one of the six accused of the rape-murder of a 16-year-old girl died in police custody late last night. 

Angry locals marched to the police station after a Nepalese labourer, Suraj, died in police custody late on Tuesday. Some of them forcibly entered the premises and assaulted policemen.

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The mob ransacked the police station and set the furniture, uniform, computers and other items afire. A large quantity of seized liquor was destroyed. The police fired into the air, but the mob pelted them with stones, forcing the cops to run for cover.

Two policemen — Vijay and Ashok — sustained serious head injuries and were taken to the Indira Gandhi Medical College. ASP Bhajan Dev Negi, who tried to intervene, was also targeted with stones, while an ASI was roughed up. Later, the mob marched to the nearby Kokunala village and set three police vehicles afire. 

Crowds also blocked the national highway at Theog, Fagu, Dhalli and Mashobra. Additional police force was rushed in from Shimla even as the government shifted the entire staff of the Kotkhai police station.

Video by Amit Kanwar

The remaining four accused in Kotkhai police custody were shifted to an unknown location. The fifth is currently in custody of the Shimla police. IGP (Southern Range) ZH Zaidi said around midnight, co-accused Rajender, alias Raju, had an altercation with Suraj over his statement to the police in which he reportedly pinned the  blame on Raju.

Raju allegedly attacked Suraj, hitting his head against the wall. Suraj was taken to the hospital where he was declared brought dead. Raju is an orchard manager and the driver of the pickup van in which the minor had taken a lift.

Meanwhile,  the Himachal Pradesh High Court today directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to constitute a three-member special investigation team to probe the case. Headed by an SP, the remaining members would be DSP-rank officers.

The order came on a plea by the state government urging the court to direct the CBI to take over the investigation.

The court directed the Chief Secretary to independently investigate the matter and take action against erring officials. He has been directed to file a compliance report within two weeks. 

The body of the victim was found in the forest area of Kotkhai on July 6.

(With inputs by Vijay Arora)