BJP, CPI(M) misleading people on rape-murder of girl: HP CM

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said the BJP and the CPI(M) are "misleading" people that the government is trying to save those accused in the rape and murder of a school girl in the Kotkhai area here.
Singh had on Friday referred the case to the CBI, after a group of people blocked a highway and damaged government vehicles, alleging that the police were trying to hush up the probe.
The chief minister said the two rival parties were trying to "exploit" the issue.
He said the probe is going into the right direction and the state police is capable of handling such cases.

"But in view of the sentiments of the people, the state government referred the probe to the CBI and wrote to the prime minister in this regard. But there has been no response from the CBI so far," he told media persons here.
The chief minister said he has also apprised the Congress high command of the probe into incident.
The minor girl, a class X student, was allegedly raped and murdered at the Kotkhai area of Shimla district on July 4. The body of the victim was recovered from the nearby Halila forest two days later.
Six people were on Thursday arrested in connection with the crime.