Kasauli firing: PWD employee succumbs to injuries

Public Works Department employee Gulab Singh, who was shot and injured during a demolition drive in the tourist town of Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh, died on Sunday after battling for life for 12 days, police said.

On May 1, Gulab Singh suffered bullet injuries while Assistant Town Planner Shaila Bala Sharma, 51, was shot dead by Narayani Guest House owner Vijay Singh during a Supreme Court-ordered demolition drive in Solan district.

Gulab Singh was referred to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh where he died.

Expressing grief, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said financial assistance of Rs 500,000 would be given to Gulab Singh's family.

He said the family will be provided full salary for his remaining service period.

Gulab Singh laid down his life while performing duty with dedication in line with Supreme Court orders to demolish unauthorized construction by hoteliers, an official statement said.

The accused was arrested from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh two days after the crime. He is in police remand.

Vijay Singh fired at officials when they insisted on executing the apex court order to demolish illegal constructions at his guest house.

The apex court, which ordered the demolition of illegal constructions in 13 hotels and resorts in Kasauli area, took suo motu cognisance of the firing incident.

On May 9, the court asked the state government to provide it the names and designations of officers who were posted in Kasauli when unauthorized constructions were carried out.

A bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta also sought a report from the state on specific steps taken to ensure that no illegal construction was being carried out in other parts of the state.

During the hearing, the bench told the Advocate General of Himachal Pradesh: "Unless you take action and remove four-five people from service, nothing will fall in line."

--IANS

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