Leader of Opposition and former BJP Chief Minister Jairam Thakur on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress government for failed governance in Himachal Pradesh and said the hill state was ‘Bhagwan Bharosey’ (at God’s mercy) in Congress rule.
Talking to mediapersons in Shimla over the brutal incident of murder of a 19-year-old college student in Sarkaghat on Monday, Thakur said it was a reflection of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
“The broad daylight murder of a young student, who was in her second year of college and was attacked with a sharp weapon while on her way to attend classes has sent shock waves across the state. It is not merely an isolated incident. It is a strong indicator of a collapsing law and order situation, and has shaken the confidence of people in the entire state,” he said.
Thakur said he personally met the victim’s family and described their grief as indescribable. He said the victim’s father, who works as a private driver, is in severe distress and has demanded justice for his daughter. “The family is devastated. The father had spoken to his daughter shortly before the incident. Within hours, he was informed of her death. No words can console such a loss,” Thakur said.
While noting that the accused has been apprehended—reportedly with the help of local villagers—Thakur raised concerns about possible larger involvement behind the crime. “It is essential to investigate whether the accused acted alone or was influenced or used by others. Every link must be thoroughly examined,” he said.
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Linking the incident to the growing problem of substance abuse, Thakur pointed out that the accused was allegedly under the influence of drugs at the time of the crime.
“The government claims to be running anti-drug campaigns, yet the situation on the ground tells a different story. If thousands of youth have already been identified as drug users, what concrete steps have been taken to prevent such crimes?” he questioned.
Citing official data, Thakur said over the past three years, Himachal Pradesh has recorded more than 6,200 cases under the NDPS Act and 66 deaths due to drug overdose. He also highlighted a sharp increase in crimes against women.
“Crimes against women have risen significantly, crossing 1,850 cases in recent years. This is a deeply worrying trend and demands urgent intervention,” he said. He criticised the state government’s response to the ghastly incident, alleging lack of sensitivity and accountability.
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