Law and Order Crisis in Himachal Pradesh: Rising Crimes Against Women Highlight Governance Challenges
BJP state spokesperson Sandipani Bhardwaj
BJP Criticizes Congress-Led Government Over Safety Concerns
Shimla: BJP state spokesperson Sandipani Bhardwaj has expressed grave concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in Himachal Pradesh under the Congress regime. He highlighted that women in the state, once considered a haven of peace, now face an alarming rise in crimes.
According to Bhardwaj, the safety of women has reached a critical point. Over the past two years, 634 rapes have been reported in the state. Additionally, more than 900 molestation cases and over 300 instances of cruelty toward women have been registered. In 2024 alone, from January to November, 305 rape cases, 458 molestation cases, and 160 incidents of cruelty against women were officially recorded.
Shocking Incidents Unnerve the State
Bhardwaj pointed to specific incidents as evidence of the worsening situation. A double murder in Una district on December 23 caused widespread shock. In this incident, a father and son were brutally shot dead on a public road in Bhadsali village, Haroli subdivision. Such violent crimes, he argued, are unprecedented in Himachal Pradesh’s history.
Another troubling event involved the death of a woman during a surgical procedure at a private hospital in Una. The family claimed that a government hospital doctor had directed her to the private facility, where complications arose. This led to public outrage and raised questions about healthcare governance.
Diary Times is now on Whatsapp Channels. Click here to join
Adding to the state’s grim tally, a horrific case from April 2023 resurfaced after police registered a murder case. The decapitated body of a young man, Deepanshu, was found in the Thanda forest. Following a court order prompted by his family, police finally acted on the case over a year later.
District-Wise Crime Statistics Paint a Disturbing Picture
The BJP spokesperson shared district-specific data to underscore the severity of crimes against women:
- Rape Cases (2023-2024): Shimla recorded a rise from 34 cases in 2023 to 39 in 2024, while Mandi reported 50 cases in 2023 and 52 in 2024. Sirmaur showed an increase from 39 to 45 cases over the same period.
- Cruelty Against Women: BBN registered 16 cases in 2023 and 12 in 2024, while Solan saw a decline from 12 to 7 cases. However, Shimla reported no change, with 14 cases each year.
The data from districts like Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu, and Una further highlighted a mix of increasing and stagnant crime rates, demonstrating the broader crisis.
Political Backlash and Call for Action
Bhardwaj criticized the Congress government for its inability to maintain law and order, stating that the current administration has failed the women of Himachal Pradesh. He urged the government to take immediate corrective measures to restore public trust and ensure safety across the state.
The rising crime statistics and shocking incidents have triggered a wave of concern among residents, signaling a need for urgent reforms and stricter enforcement of the law.
(Diary Times– Shimla’s independent hyperlocal community news website covering local news, stories, events, food, music, fashion, sports, nightlife, entertainment & more since 2019 is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join Diary Times Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)
Continuing the achievement of the journey of effectiveness and credibility of more than 10 years in the career of journalism, as a woman journalist, I am Serving as the founder, promoter and editor of DiaryTimes with the trust and support of all. My credible coverage may not have given a big shape to the numbers, but my journey presents articles that make you aware of the exact and meaningful situations of Himachal’s politics, ground issues related to the public, business, tourism and the difficult geographical conditions of the state and financial awareness. DiaryTimes, full of the experience of my precise editorial expertise, is awakening the flame of credible journalism among all of you, so that the eternal flame of meaningful change can be lit in the life of the people of the state and the atrocities being committed against the people can be brought to the fore, I am motivated for that. If even a small change comes with the power of my journalism and the whole world becomes a witness to that issues, then I will consider myself fortunate.
