Shimla: Even as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe the heinous rape and murder of a 16-year-old Kotkhai girl that shook the state claimed that the case had been solved with the arrest of six accused, the public refused to accept the police theory.

Shimla: Even as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe the heinous rape and murder of a 16-year-old Kotkhai girl that shook the state claimed that the case had been solved with the arrest of six accused, the public refused to accept the police theory.

Following claims by the police of having solved the blind rape case, social media went abuzz with allegations of attempts by the police to shield some well-connected persons and also that the scene of crime was in a house and not in the forest as being claimed by the police. People also doubted the presence of two Nepalese labourer at the same village, when in all other past crimes they flee from the spot immediately after the crime.

Five of the six accused in the case, who were taken to the local Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for medical, had to face mob fury here this afternoon. People from all walks of life started gathering outside the hospital as the news spread that they were being brought there. Even though the police had been deployed in large numbers, they had a tough time trying to save the accused from being beaten up by the infuriated mob.

There were protests by student outfits, social organisations and political parties against the “inept” handling of the case. Activists of the ABVP staged a protest outside the office of the Superintendent of Police and forcefully tried to enter the premises. The students of the local Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyalaya staged a protest demanding immediate arrest of those involved in the crime. The BJP took out a candlelight vigil in the memory of the victim.

Though the case has been handed over to the CBI, the Chief Minister accused opponents of giving a political hue to the entire case. “The entire mayhem and incidents of destroying of public property at Theog is politically motivated. Instead of having sympathies with the family of the victim, the matter is being given a political colour,” he said.

He added that a SIT had specially been constituted to probe the case and the police acted with alacrity by nabbing six accused. “The rape of the minor has shaken the sensibilities of the public and the matter has been referred to the CBI to remove doubts in people’s mind,” he added.

Without naming anyone, the CM claimed that the police convoy in which the accused were being brought to Shimla was attacked by an organised group, already waiting.