Shahabad celebrates RK's freedom

PANCHKULA: House No. 19 in sector 6 of Panchkula was the focus of attention after its high-profile occupant went underground till the time he was arrested and sent to jail in the sensational Shivani Bhatnagar murder case. Former IPS officer Ravi Kant Sharmaas house was again in the spotlight after he was acquitted in the case on Wednesday. But if one anticipated jubilation inside the sprawling bungalow, there was none.The house wore a deserted look. Wife Madhu Sharma had rushed to Delhi to meet her husband along with her daughter. Some well-wishers did land up outside the house and burst crackers, but Panchkula was muted in its response.
Tenants on the first floor of the house told TOI that Madhu had left for Delhi on Tuesday. They said, "We were inside the house when we heard crackers being burst outside. But we did not recognize anybody when we came out. Madhu will be returning on Thursday morning."
V K Sood, neighbour of the Sharmas, claimed he was very happy to hear about the acquittal. "I know the family for the past 30 years and they have finally got justice. I am eagerly waiting for the family to return on Thursday so that I can greet them," said Sood.
Relatives too poured in at the sector-6 residence of Sharmas. "I just saw the news on television. I had come with my family to wish him, but none of the family members are around," said Ramesh Chand, a relative of the Sharmas.
Ravi Kantas daughter Komal Talwar, who stays in sector 6, Panchkula, was also not at home and TOI learnt that even she was in Delhi with her mother.
Meanwhile, there was also no activity at Bal Niketan School in sector 2 where Madhu Sharma is the president."Till now, we have not received any news about Ravi Kant. Madhu will definitely come to the school and distribute sweets among the children," said Ram Dutt, one of the workers.
If Panchkula was silent, the IPS officeras hometown Shahabad burst into jubilation. Friends, relatives and well-wishers of the family came out to the streets to celebrate.
Elated members of Ravi Kant Bachao Samiti, an organization formed soon after Sharmaas arrest, were seen distributing sweets at various crossings and markets of Shahabad town.
In Anand Gali, where Sharmaas ancestral house is located, people came out to the streets to congratulate one another. The IPS officer also owns a 14-acre plot in Deeg village, 10 km away from Sharmaas ancestral house.
Sharmaas aunt and uncle, Bala and Om Prakash (both former teachers), still live in Shahabad. "All along we believed that Ravi Kant will be acquitted in the case, and that day has finally come," said the two in unision.
Samiti members Ravinder Sharma, Rakesh Goyal, Dr Pradeep Goyal and Mukesh Aggarwal said they were all very happy with the outcome of the case. They had held rallies and submitted memoranda at the mini secretariat in Kurukshetra to demand Sharmaas release.
Within the town, several prayer meetings were held, in which women led by Bala also used to participate. To support the Samitias activities, friends, well-wishers and relatives of R K Sharma living in Chandigarh and Delhi also used to visit Anand Gali, which had become the focal point of the movement to save the IPS officer.
Dr Goyal said that, till the time of Sharmaas arrest, his land in Deeg was tilled by hired labour. After his arrest, not only was the land left untended but also Sharmaas family kept away from Shahabad. Goyal added that he looked forward to Sharma and his family visiting the town soon.