People participated in large numbers in the demonstrations held in various parts of Himachal Pradesh today protesting and venting their anger against the unwarranted and brutal attack on agitating students as well as on the state headquarters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
The protesters warned that the people of the state will not accept a government which is intolerant to democratic ways of protest and uses the police force ruthlessly to curb them. The Virbhadra government is notorious for the merciless manner in which it deals with dissent.
The Himachal Pradesh State Committee of Communist Party of India (Marxist) while strongly condemning the brutal lathicharge on the protesting students at Vidhan Sabha chowk and the attack on CPI(M) state office on March 18 noted that it displayed the intolerance and undemocratic attitude of Virbhadra government.
The office of the Party was ransacked and those present inside were mercilessly beaten up. The door was broken down by the police and furniture damaged. Treasurer-cum-office secretary Ramakant Mishra was mercilessly beaten up. The All India President of SFI Sivadasan too was dragged out and subjected to severe beating. After taking them to the police station Boileauganj they were once again beaten up in custody, with each one of them being taken to a dark room and subjected to severe beatings.
The Himachal Pradesh State Committee has sought a judicial probe by a sitting judge of the High Court in to the whole incident, including the attack on the State Headquarters of the Party.
It seemed as if the heavily armed police complete with riot gear was not merely beating the students and chasing them but were fighting a battle with them. Girl students were not spared either and with some complaining of being molested.
The statement noted that such an attack on a political party office did not happen even during the emergency days. he party has approached police station Boileauganj to register an FIR against the police officials Ram Lal Bansal DSP Shimla, Biri Singh Inspector, Shiv Kumar ASI and others who broke into the CPI (M) office.