Student’s murder reflection of deteriorating law and order in Himachal, says BJP

Shimla, April 14 Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur on Tuesday slammed the Congress government in the state after the murder of a 19-year-old college student in Sarkaghat in Mandi district, terming the incident a reflection of the deteriorating law and order situation.

Thakur told the media here that the student, who was in her second year of college, was attacked with a sharp weapon while on her way to attend classes. The assault was so brutal that she succumbed to her injuries on the spot.

“This is not merely an isolated incident but a grim indicator of a collapsing law and order system. The brutality of the crime has shaken the conscience of Himachal Pradesh,” said the Leader of Opposition. Expressing anguish, six-time lawmaker Thakur said he personally met the victim’s family and described their grief as “indescribable.”

The victim’s father, who works as a private driver, is in distress and has demanded justice for his daughter. “The family is devastated. The father had spoken to his daughter shortly before the crime. Within hours, he was informed of her death. No words can console such a loss,” Thakur said.

While noting that the accused has been apprehended, reportedly with the help of local villagers, BJP leader Thakur raised concerns about possible larger involvement behind the crime. “It is essential to investigate whether the accused acted alone or was influenced or used by others. Every link must be thoroughly examined,” he said.

Linking the incident to the growing problem of drug abuse, Thakur pointed out that the accused was allegedly under the influence of drugs at the time of the crime. “The government claims to be running anti-drug campaigns, yet the situation on the ground tells a different story. If thousands of youth have already been identified as drug users, what concrete steps have been taken to prevent such crimes?” he questioned.

Citing official data, Thakur said over the past three years, the state has recorded more than 6,200 cases under the NDPS Act with 66 deaths owing to drug overdose. He also highlighted a sharp increase in crimes against women. “Crimes against women have risen significantly, crossing 1,850 cases in recent years. This is a deeply worrying trend and demands urgent intervention,” he added.

A day earlier, Governor Kavinder Gupta termed the crime “heinous, inhuman and deeply disturbing”. The Governor spoke with the Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Tiwari and took a detailed report of the incident.

He directed the police authorities to ensure strict and swift action against the culprit and to bring the guilty to justice at the earliest. The Governor also emphasised the need for continued vigilance and collective efforts to ensure the safety and security of citizens, especially the women.

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