Himalaya Niti Abhiyan (HNA), a collective of grass root people’s resistance defending local livelihoods, environment and social equity with the idea of sustainable mountain specific development model, condemned the decision of Himachal Pradesh government on giving clean chit to dam authorities in 24 students drowned case. Reproduced below is their press release. – Editor
Press Release:
Himalaya Niti Abhiyan (HNA) which is an apex body of various people movements and struggles, today strictly condemned the decision of H.P. state govt. on giving clean chit to dam authorities and other concerning officer related to murder of 24 students at Larji. Clean chit to dam authority is inappropriate, embarrassing, awkward or undesirable decision taken by the state govt.
State Secretary Sandeep Minhas and joint secretary Vishal Deep today jointly took a strict cognizance on this decision of state govt. “It is most inappropriate and embarrassing decision. It is a straight case of murder of 24 students by Dam Authorities.
Some people told dam authorities to shut down dam’s gate but in vain because the authorities or concerning officers did not listen to them. World have seen the video in which suddenly water flood came and now the question is how can dam authorities or concerning officers can get a clean chit,” they said in a joint statement. It is injustice to the families of 24 students.
The state govt. has also constituted a investigation committee so how can the govt give a clean chit to dam authority even before the submission of committee report? Indirectly govt. is supporting this incident which has set a very bad precedent for Himachal because it is directly linked to tourism. So all this negligence by Dam authorities should be treated as criminal offence and there should not be any clean chit in this case.
They accused the H.P. Govt. of protecting the dam authorities. “If Dam authority and concerning officers have clean chit then it is moral duty of govt. to tell who is responsible for the murder of 24 tourist students. The investigation committee should conduct an impartial probe into the matter and recommend strict action against dam authorities,” they said.
