Shimla rape-murder case: People's protest to prove costly for Congress govt in HP?

The people of Himachal Pradesh are protesting to demand justice for the rape and murder of a minor girl for the last several days.

Shimla, July 20: It has been more than two weeks since the capital city of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla, and its neighbouring areas are on a boil after the brutal rape and murder of a 16-year-old school girl in Kotkhai on July 4.

The residents of the hill station are protesting against the government for failing to provide safety to women/girls. The protesters are demanding strictest punishment to the culprits.

Every day, citizens of Shimla are thronging the streets of the city demanding justice for the 16-year-old deceased as a part of their campaign--Justice for Gudiya. The residents have named the victim Gudiya (doll or a young girl in Hindi).

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the ruling Congress under Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for shielding the culprits in the horrific case. The shocking rape and murder case could prove detrimental to the ruling Congress as the elections are going to take place later this year.

The BJP also demanded the resignation of the Virbhadra Singh government at the earliest.

A few days ago, the police arrested six persons for the rape and murder of the girl. The case took a shocking turn when the main accused on Tuesday murdered another accused inside the police lock-up at the Kotkhai police station.

On Wednesday, violent protests were witnessed across the state in the wake of the murder inside the police lock-up.

"Protesters surrounded the Kotkhai police station and pelted stones, before finally torching the police station. Three police vehicles were also set on fire. Police had to resort to lathicharge and fire two rounds in the air to disperse the crowd. About half-a-dozen policemen and some residents were reported to have been injured in the clashes," reported The Indian Express.

On Wednesday, the Himachal Pradesh High Court ordered a CBI probe into the rape and murder of the girl as well as the death of the accused.

Himachal Governor Acharya Devvrat also sought a detailed report from the state government on both the cases.

The CM, who is under tremendous pressure from all corners, said that justice will be provided to the victim and her family.

"To play politics over the death of a minor girl is shameful, as her soul won't be able to rest in peace. I am sincerely committed to bringing the criminals to book and want them to be hanged for the heinous crime they have committed," he said.

"The state government has formed a Special Investigation Team... I personally wrote to the Prime Minister to get the CBI to investigate this case," he added.

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