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Manohar Lal, a resident of Chamba Himachal Pradesh, was tragically murdered and his dismembered body was found in a stream near his village on June 9. Disturbing crime scene photos went viral on Twitter, further highlighting the brutality of the incident.
Local authorities acted quickly and arrested five people in connection with the heinous crime. The detainees are two minors and three adults. Additional Police Superintendent (ASP) Vinod Kumar Dhiman, who is leading the investigation, has made it clear that despite the religious background of the victim and the suspects, there is no community angle to the murder.
Manohar, 28, disappeared on June 6 and his family filed a complaint two days later, on June 8. Later, on June 9, his body was discovered in a nallah (stream) located in Bandal Panchayat of Salooni, according to the police.
Investigations revealed that Manohar had been in a romantic relationship with a Muslim girl named Rukhsana, which was strongly opposed by his family. On June 6, Manohar mysteriously disappeared, and it wasn't until locals noticed a foul odour coming from the stream that his body was discovered.
According to media reports, soldiers from the border post who were patrolling noticed a sack lying in the drain. The police team, led by DSP Saluni Ramakant, immediately responded to the information. Subsequently, a murder case was registered and during the investigation, evidence was found linking a Muslim family member to the incident. The accused was brought before the court and subsequently remained in police custody for five days.
SP Chamba Abhishek Yadav has stated that the police team recovered the various parts of the victim's body which were buried in different places inside the drain. A thorough investigation will be conducted to uncover the full details surrounding this tragic event.
Community response and legal proceedings
The brutal murder of Manohar Lal in Himachal Pradesh has sparked widespread outrage among local Hindu organizations. These organizations demand that suspects be held accountable and that strict action be taken against them.
In response to the public outcry, the authorities have filed a case against the defendants under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and other relevant sections.
While the police have not released the names of the suspects, media reports identified one of them as Shabbir, who is believed to be Rukhsana's brother.
Calls for Justice
Manohar's grieving mother demands the harshest possible punishment for the perpetrators and pleads for a death sentence. She also suspects the involvement of Rukhsana's uncle, Musafir, in the murder of his son.
Ravi Bharadwaj, the district chief of Bajrang Dal, warned that the protests will escalate if the authorities fail to ensure justice in the case. Local BJP leader Ajay Tondon has suggested a larger conspiracy involving a local Muslim-led human trafficking gang.
Local Muslim leaders condemned the murder and distanced themselves from the accused family. They accuse Hindu leaders of deliberately stoking communal tensions in an otherwise peaceful area. However, Tondon dismisses these statements as insincere, believing that the Muslim community will finally regroup after a few days of expressed outrage.
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