Kasauli killing: 5 officers suspended

The Himachal Pradesh today government suspended five police officers for dereliction of duty, a step taken after a woman officer was shot dead while leading a demolition drive.

Assistant Town and Country Planner Shail Bala Sharma was shot dead on May 1 when she had gone to supervise the demolition of unauthorised construction at Kasauli's Narayani Guest House where its owner Vijay Singh allegedly shot at her. She later succumbed to injuries.

Government suspended five officers, including the then SP, Solan, Mohit Chawla, DSP concerned, two SHOs, and a Naib Tehsildar for alleged dereliction of duty.

The government had already transferred these officers on the basis of an enquiry report submitted by Dinesh Malhotra, which had pointed several lapses in working of the police leading to death of Shail Bala Sharma and a public works department employee Gulab Singh.

The decision was taken after a cabinet meeting today. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that strict action be taken against the officers concerned.