Subhash Mahajan
Chamba: In a chilling reminder of the recent Vimal Negi case in Shimla, the mysterious *death of a Junior Engineer (JE) from the Jal Shakti Department in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh has triggered public anger and protests.
The body of 36-year-old Naveen Kumar, a resident of Gand village, was discovered in the Sharela nullah, around 2 km from Chilli towards Tissa on the Chamba-Tissa road. The Himachal police have detained four suspects in the case.
Family alleges murder, demands action
As news of the *death spread, the victim’s family and local residents alleged foul play, suspecting the Junior Engineer was murdered. Enraged by what they claimed was a lack of transparency in police investigation, they staged a strong protest and blocked the Tissa-Chamba road, bringing traffic to a halt for several hours. The protesters demanded a fair and thorough probe and swift action against those responsible.
While the district police took custody of the body and sent it for post-mortem, the public outcry continued. Locals raised serious questions about the condition in which the body was found and criticised the initial handling of the case. Despite police assurances, distrust among residents remained high, and protesters resumed the road blockade later in the day.
DSP Jitendra Chaudhary reached the spot and assured the crowd of a fair investigation. “The police stand with the people. No injustice will be tolerated and strict action will be taken against whoever is found guilty,” he said. His assurance temporarily calmed the situation, but public anger remains simmering as the region awaits clarity on the young officer’s mysterious death.
Earlier, the body of Vimal Negi, an engineer with Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation, was found under mysterious circumstances in a lake in Bilaspur district on March 18. He had gone missing from Shimla on March 10.
His wife alleged that his seniors had harassed him. The mysterious death triggered a political storm in Himachal Pradesh, with the opposition BJP alleging a cover-up. It has also sparked a tussle within the Himachal Police.
The Congress government in the state had formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the death, but the Himachal Pradesh High Court later ordered that the case be handed over to the CBI.
