The death of a 22-year-old woman from Khakhnal village has brought the Kullu police under scrutiny for what the victim's family describes as negligence and lack of timely action
The death of a 22-year-old woman from Khakhnal village in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, has raised serious concerns. The woman, who left home on August 7 to visit her friends at a local hotel, was reported missing on August 10 when her phone was found switched off and she did not return home.
Despite the family’s urgent pleas, the police reportedly took no action for three days, only beginning their investigation after the body was discovered on the banks of the Beas River. The subsequent arrest of her two friends and a hotel operator has deepened the mystery, especially with crucial CCTV footage from the hotel reportedly deleted.
The case has sparked widespread criticism and calls for a thorough examination of the police’s handling of the investigation. The family said it had alerted the police but no immediate action was taken. The family claimed that they had to find the body themselves; it was discovered on the banks of the Beas River near on August 13.
Her mother expressed anger over the fact that the Kullu police only arrived at the scene two hours after being informed of the body. The mother has demanded a CBI investigation, stating that the lack of timely police intervention contributed to the loss of her daughter.
Her father said that they were not satisfied with the police, noting that even after providing the victim’s laptop, it was not examined by the authorities. He also highlighted the fact that he personally enquired with the Black Magic Hotel in Old Manali, where the woman had been staying.
The father alleged that the hotel manager initially refused to provide access to CCTV footage, claiming that the cameras were down due to power outages. Then it was later found out that the CCTV footage have been deleted, further fueling suspicions.
Local resident Ramesh Kumar has called for a thorough investigation into the deleted CCTV footage from the hotel. He believes the footage is crucial to discover the truth. He emphasized that the police need to conduct a fair and transparent inquiry.
