Police form SIT after protests over alleged rape of college student at Dharamshala

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh Police on Thursday set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and registered an FIR in connection with the alleged rape of a student in a Degree College in Dharamsala. The SIT also announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for anyone who can provide information about the crime.

The move comes after people vented their anger on the social media and also students protested against the crime.

The police on Thursday registered an FIR under Sections 354 and 509 of IPC while the Director General of Police announced an award of Rs 25,000 to those providing information about the alleged crime, a senior official said.

DGP Sanjay Kumar said that an SIT, headed by Inspector General of Police (North), has been set up to speed up investigations and ADGP (law and order) Sanjay Kundu would monitor the progress of probe.

"The case would be thoroughly investigated and anyone found guilty would be punished," Kumar said.

Meanwhile, several student organisations including VHP, SFI and ABVP have demanded stringent action against the culprits.

State VHP organising secretary, Manoj Kumar demanded that culprits be immediately arrested, brought to justice and be awarded capital punishment.

"If the case is not investigated properly and culprits are not awarded capital punishment, the crime against women would escalate in the state and the image of Himachal, known as 'Dev Bhumi' would be sullied," he said.

Former BJP minister Krishan Kapoor at Dharamshala also demanded that the accused, irrespective of their status be given death sentence in accordance with law.

The SFI campus unit of HPU also protested against the alleged rape today and said despite the family members of the victim urging the principal of the college for registration of case against the accused, no action was taken.

"The culprits of heinous crime should be nabbed and stringent punishment be awarded to them," Campus secretary Vikram Kaith demanded.

The ABVP took out protest march demanding action against the culprits.
Few days ago, tension prevailed over the mysterious 'gang rape' incident, which allegedly took place within the campus of Degree College in Dharamshala. The incident, however, hasn't been confirmed and the victim, too, hasn't been traced so far.