Woman officer heading SC-ordered demolition drive shot dead by hotel owner in Kasauli, accused on the run
A 51-year-old woman official was chased and shot dead Tuesday afternoon by the owner of a guest house in Kasauli following an altercation between the two during a demolition drive ordered by the Supreme Court against unauthorised structures in 13 hotels across the hill resort in Himachal Pradesh.
According to police and eyewitnesses, Assistant Town Planner Shail Bala Sharma was killed by Narayani guest house owner Vijay Thakur who allegedly fired at least three bullets at her inside the establishment in Mandudhar on the Dharampur-Kasauli road, at around 2.33 pm. A number of police officers and government officials were present at the site when the incident occurred. Sharma was declared dead on arrival by doctors at the Dharampur government hospital. Thakur is on the run, with police saying that they have formed multiple teams to nab him. Police have also announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to the accused’s arrest.
A Public Works Department employee, Gulab Singh, who was clearing the hotel rooms earmarked for demolition was injured in the firing and is undergoing treatment in Chandigarh, police said. Officials said the demolition drive, which was being implemented in the area by four separate teams, has been put on hold following the incident. DGP Sita Ram Mardi visited the spot in the evening, said officials.
One of the eyewitnesses, Parwanoo Range Officer Shivender Pal Singh, said Thakur opened fire when Sharma and other officials entered the hotel to take stock of the demolition. “He fired two bullets inside the hotel. One of the PWD employees was injured. We immediately ran outside to save ourselves. He chased us and fired another bullet which hit the ATP, she fell down,” Singh said. Officials said Thakur obtained an arms licence in 2011, and possessed a revolver.