Shimla rape and murder: Joint forum demands DGP’s removal, Nepalese join protests

The Gudiya Nyay Manch also submitted a memorandum to chief minister Virbhadra Singh and enlisted six main demands

The joint forum constituted to demand justice for the Class 10 student who was raped and murdered in Kotkhai on July 4, demanded suspension of director general of police (DGP), Somesh Goyal, and staged a protest march outside the deputy commissioner’s office in Shimla, on Monday.

Women from Nepali community take part in the protest and chakkajam outside the Himachal Pradesh secretariat against rape and murder of teenage girl and the murder of Nepali labourer in police custody in Kotkhai, Shimla on July 24 2017. (Deepak Sansta / Hindustan Times)

They were joined by Nepalese migrants who demanded justice for the Nepalese national, Suraj, who was arrested as an accused and later died under mysterious circumstance in police custody.

United under the banner of Gudiya Nyay Manch, around 500 locals and Nepalese migrants gathered on Mall Road on Monday morning. They demanded that the government fast-track the CBI probe.

Meanwhile, the Gudiya Nyay Manch also submitted a memorandum to chief minister Virbhadra Singh and enlisted six main demands. Convener of the forum, Sharda Damseth, said the forum’s demands include Goyal’s suspension.

Don’t politicise: Kin

On the other hand, the victim’s cousin also addressed the protesters and requested that the protest should not be politicised.

Meanwhile, district president of the Akhil Bharatiya Nepalese Migrant Workers Association, Subarkhar Pant, threatened that Nepalese migrants in Himachal Pradesh will boycott work if justice is not ensured in the case. “It is sad that even though Nepalese have been contributing in Himachal’s progress, they are still being ill-treated,” he said. 1.84 lakh migrants labourers are registered with the state government. Of these, 17% are Nepalese

Six demands of Gudiya Nayay Manch

1) Suspend DGP Somesh Goyal

2) CBI probe to be conducted in fast-track mode and completed in time-bound manner

3) Probe in Suraj’s custodial death be probed by CBI

4) Adequate protection for Suraj’s wife, Mamta, as culprits may attack her

5) Record Mamta’s statement before a judicial magistrate at the earliest

6) Set up gender sensitisation committees at all educational institutes and workplaces