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Dhumal rakes up school girl rape, murder case in Kotkhai

Dhumal charged Virbhadra Singh and his government of shielding those involved in the crime.

assembly elections Updated: Nov 04, 2017 16:06 IST Himachal Times, Shimla BJP’s CM face Prem Kumar Dhumal addressing an election rally in Kotkhai in Shimla. (HT Photo)

In the Kotkhai small town, which remained at the epicentre of politics of the affluent apple-growing areas, Bharatiya Janata Party’s chief ministerial face Prem Kumar Dhumal peddled the infamous rape and murder case of a school girl thathad led to a widespread outrage in the state a few months ago.

Dhumal, who was campaigning for his blue-eyed boy and former horticulture minister Narendra Bragta in Kotkhai, hit out at chief minister Virbhadra Singh over the law and order situation.

“Children and women are unsafe. I ensure that our government will give priority to law and order,” said Dhumal, while addressing a public rallyat a ground close to the police station that was burnt down by an angrymob after Suraj Singh, a prime suspect in the case, died in police custody.

Dhumal chargedVirbhadra Singh and his government of shielding those involved in the crime. The school girl’snaked body was found in the forested area in Hilaila village on July 5 this year.

Dhumal said if voted to power, the BJP government wouldset up a 24X7 Gudiya helplinefor women in distress. “Women’s safetywill be our top agenda,” saidDhumal.

It was Dhumal’s first tour to any assembly segment in the apple growing belt after being declared the chief ministerial candidate of the saffron party.

Addressing a public meeting at Kotkhai, Dhumal said, “The BJP government in the state gave a push to welfare of all sections of the society while during the Congress regime, incidents like Gudia rape and murder case happen.”

He said after Vidya Stokes opted out of the poll fray in Theog, chief minister Virbhadra Singh decided to contest from the same segment.

“But Gudiya rape and murder case haunted him and forced to shift the constituency,” he said, adding, “Congress government has tried to save those who messed up with the case. Today an IG rank officer is behind the bar in custodial death of one of accused in Gudiya rape and murder case,” he said.

First Published: Nov 04, 2017 14:54 IST