Gulab Singh, PWD worker who was with Shail Bala during demolition drive has died
Gulab Singh, the Public Works Department (PWD) labourer who was injured in Kasauli shooting, during the demolition drive died at a Chandigarh hospital on Sunday. He had suffered bullet injuries and was in a critical condition for the last two weeks.
The PWD worker was with Shail Bala Sharma, the officer, who was supervising demolition of unauthorized constructions in Himachal Pradesh's Kasauli. The doctors at the PGI hospital said his condition had deteriorated a day ago, when he was put on ventilator.
There was huge public outrage after Ms Sharma, an assistant town and country planner, was
shot dead by a hotel owner Vijay Singh, when she was leading a Supreme Court-mandated demolition drive against illegal structures.
Ten days ago, a joint team of Himachal Pradesh and Delhi Police tracked down and arrested the accused, Vijay Singh.
The
Supreme Court on May 9, wanted to know from the Himachal Pradesh government the names and designations of officials who were posted at Kasauli, when the unauthorised constructions came up.
"Unless you take action and remove four-five people from service, nothing will fall in line," the bench told the advocate general of Himachal Pradesh. The court has also asked the state government to file a status report and posted it for hearing in the first week of August.
The
Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Jai Ram Thakur had admitted lapses in the demolition drive in Kasauli. "The government has taken all possible steps after the firing. The accused has been arrested; ex-gratia grant of Rs 5 lakh has been announced for the family of the officer. The family would also get full salary as drawn by her for the remaining period of service," the Chief Minister said.