Kasauli killing kept cops on their toes

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 28

Despite the launch of the 'Gudiya' helpline, Shakti App and Hoshiyar Singh helpline to ensure the safety of women and instant reporting of crime, the year 2018 saw a marginal rise in crime and a significant increase in rape and abduction cases.

The killing of Assistant Town and Country Planner Shail Bala, who was leading a demolition squad at Kasauli in Solan district, and PWD employee Gulab Singh by the owner of a hotel rocked the state in May. Although the assailant managed to flee the spot, he was arrested three days after the crime. The incident led to the suspension and transfer of the Solan SP.

Chitta (diacetylmorphine), a highly addictive semi-synthetic opioid derived from heroin, also made inroads into the state, forcing the authorities to chalk out an elaborate plan to fight the drug menace. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur also organised a conclave of CMs of neighbouring states to work out a joint strategy.

The alleged involvement of Nigerians revealed that drug peddlers in the state are procuring 'chitta' from Delhi and parts of Punjab. Under an intensive drive launched against the menace, 1,234 cases were registered under the NDPS Act in 2018 against 947 in 2017.

In the four-year-old Yug murder case case, all three accused — Chander Sharma, Tajender and Vikrant — were held guilty by the District and Sessions Judge and were awarded death sentence.

In the Gudia rape and murder case, the CBI arrested the lone accused, woodcutter Anil Kumar, alias Nilu, debunking the gangrape theory.

However, nine police officials, including an IG and a SP-rank official, are behind the bars in the related custodial death case.

In July, the Punjab Police killed a miscreant, identified as Sunny Masih, in a shootout at Naina Devi in Bilaspur district. Two of his accomplices were arrested.

The number of rape and abduction cases increased from 229 and 319 in 2017 to 316 and 448 (up to November 31). However, there was a marginal drop in murder and attempt to murder cases.

The cases of outraging modesty increased from 497 to 505 while theft and burglary cases registered a significant increase. However, the total number of crime cases registered under the IPC was 13,449 in 2018 against 11,915 in 2017.At least 1,099 persons were killed and 5,062 were injured in 2,832 road accidents.

On the other hand, Himachal achieved the distinction of becoming the first state to implement the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) in November. Under this system, all emergency numbers, including that of the police, fire, ambulance and disaster response, have now been integrated into one number (112).

As many as 512 head constables with 32 years of unblemished service record were promoted to the rank of honorary ASI.