Chamba murder accused involved in anti-national activities: LoP

The Himachal Pradesh government imposed Section 144 in the Kihar area amid tensions triggered by the murder of a 21-year-old man in the Chamba district last week. The victim, Manohar, was reported missing on 6 June and his mutilated body was found days later in a sewer in Chamba.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state has alleged that the main accused in the crime was involved in “anti-national activities.” “The law and order situation in the state is not good…a Hindu Dalit was murdered…Later, his body was found in a drain and his body was cut into eight pieces. Such incidents are rare in this state,” Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Thursday. A mob had attempted to set a house on fire and attempted to vandalise the Deputy Superintendent’s vehicle. Earlier, police arrested five people, including a couple, in connection with the murder. The couple reportedly murdered Manohar for his relationship with their minor niece, who comes from a minority community.
Thakur further alleged that the ruling party is trying to influence the case and that the main accused “could be involved” in anti-national activities. “Influential people are trying to help him. The influential leaders of the ruling party are also trying to divert the issue. They should be exposed. BJP demanded that this matter should be investigated by the NIA. He [the main accused] could be involved in anti-national activities,” the BJP leader said. “This matter is not a normal issue; the accused is a suspect in many other cases. If the investigation is done through the NIA, the matter would be resolved. A normal person could not cut the body of a person into eight pieces.” The Opposition leader has further alleged that the accused had carried out “huge transactions” worth Rs 95 lakh during demonetisation and that the man was a suspect in a terrorist attack in the area in 1998. “During the 1998 massacre and terrorist attack in the Satrundi area of Chamba, 35 people were killed and seven are still missing.
The main accused in this case was also a suspect in the 1998 case.” Meanwhile, Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged parties to not politicise the issue. In response to the BJP’s allegations, Sukhu said that the government was “ready” for any investigation if the Opposition could provide any evidence. “If Jai Ram Thakur provides any evidence on the allegations, the government is ready for any demand. There is no scope for communal colour. The Muslim community is very small in number here, and even if BJP wants CBI or NIA investigation on the matter we are open to all. I think whatever has happened was very unfortunate, the accused have been arrested. There should not be any atmosphere of fear, I got to know that the houses have been burnt, it is not good,” he said. “The culture of the state does not allow this. The tourist season is also at its peak, so that should also be kept in mind. Anyone, be it Hindu, Muslim, Christian or be it Buddhist it is my duty to provide safety and security to them,” the CM said.