Nalagarh/Solan, Jan 3 (UNI): Senior BJP leader and former minister Dr Rajiv Sehjal on Saturday mounted a sharp attack on the Congress government over the suspicious blast near the Nalagarh police station, alleging a complete breakdown of law and order in the industrial belt.
Addressing media persons, Dr. Sehjal said the explosion in a sensitive and highly industrialised area like Nalagarh, the damage to nearby buildings, and the subsequent arrival of forensic teams and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) clearly indicate the gravity of the incident.
He alleged that despite the seriousness of the matter, the state government was attempting to downplay it by projecting it as a routine incident, which, he said, was misleading and irresponsible.
The BJP leader raised serious objections to the posting of DSP Bhishma Thakur in Nalagarh. He pointed out that the officer had retired in January 2024 but was granted a two-year extension and posted in what he described as a highly sensitive area. Dr. Sehjal questioned the rationale behind this decision, calling it inexplicable from both administrative and security perspectives.
Alleging cronyism, he claimed that the DSP was considered close to the Chief Minister’s cabinet and that political patronage was the sole reason behind his extension. He further alleged that the officer frequently remained on leave, adversely affecting departmental functioning and contributing to the deteriorating law and order situation in the region.
Dr. Sehjal questioned why, despite the availability of several young and capable officers in the state, a retired official was continued in such a crucial posting. He said industrialists, workers, and local residents were living under an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, while the government remained indifferent.
Demanding a high-level, impartial, and time-bound inquiry into the blast, Dr. Sehjal called for an immediate review of DSP-level postings and extensions. He warned that if transparency was not ensured, the BJP would intensify its agitation from the streets to the Assembly across Himachal Pradesh.
