Mandi Student Murder Case Update / Mandi: A wave of grief and public outrage swept across Himachal Pradesh on Monday following the brutal daylight murder of 19-year-old college student Siya. On Tuesday, amidst a heavy police deployment, her last rites were performed in her ancestral village, ‘Nain,’ located in the Sarkaghat subdivision.
The funeral rites were conducted by the victim’s cousin, attended by local MLA Dalip Thakur and hundreds of mourners. Siya, a second-year B.Voc student at Gopalpur College, was hacked to death with a sharp-edged weapon (a sickle) on Monday morning while she was on her way to college.
Family in Shock; Markets Shut in Protest
The victim’s family remains in deep shock. Eyewitnesses described heart-wrenching scenes when the body arrived at the home; her mother reportedly fainted multiple times. Her father, a private driver, had spoken to his daughter just hours before the tragic incident occurred.
In protest against this heinous crime, a complete shutdown was observed in the towns of Sarkaghat, Tehra, and Mandi. Local residents of Gopalpur kept their markets closed and announced the postponement of the traditional ‘Chinj Mela’ (fair) as a mark of protest and respect. The accused has been identified as Vishal (alias Rishu) and is currently in police custody; locals have described him as a drug addict, a revelation that has further fueled public outrage against the rising prevalence of narcotics in the region. Chief Minister Promises Strict Action
Addressing the media in Shimla, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu condemned the incident in the strongest terms. He stated that there is no place for such violence in a peace-loving state like Himachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister said, “The accused has already been arrested, and the police are working effectively to ensure that he receives the harshest possible punishment.” He assured the bereaved family that the government would leave no stone unturned to deliver justice.
Political Tensions Rise Over Law and Order
The opposition has launched a scathing attack on the Sukhu administration. Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur met with the victim’s family and termed the government “insensitive”; he questioned why senior leaders remained silent immediately after the incident.
Thakur stated, “This is not an isolated incident; it is a sign of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.” He further alleged that more than 1,850 cases of crimes against women have been registered recently. Thakur also pointed out that due to a poor transportation system, the victim was forced to walk a long distance, which further heightened her vulnerability. He has demanded an investigation into whether the accused committed the crime alone or if he was part of a larger network.
National Leaders Express Concern
Reacting to the incident, former Union Minister and MP Anurag Thakur, during his visit to Hamirpur, accused the state government of failing to instill fear in criminals. He alleged that the administration is hesitating to take action against various mafias, including drug syndicates.
MP Kangana Ranaut also expressed her condolences and concern on social media. She stated that the broad-daylight murder of a student on her way to her studies is a disgrace to humanity and proves that daughters are no longer safe in the state.
