Controversy erupted in Himachal Pradesh after “Khalistan” flags were found tied on the main gate and walls of the Legislative Assembly in Dharamsala on Sunday.
Later when the residents informed the administration about this, the flags were removed.
State Chief Minister Jairam Thakur ordered a probe into the incident. “I condemn the cowardly incident of raising Khalistan flags at the gate of Dharamshala Assembly Complex in the dark of the night. Only winter session is held here, so there is a need for more security arrangements only during that time,” Thakur tweeted in Hindi (roughly translated).
“Taking advantage of this, this cowardly incident has been carried out, but we will not tolerate this. This incident will be investigated immediately and strict action will be taken against the culprits. I would like to tell those people that if you have the courage, then come out in the light of day, not in the dark of night,” he added.
Police suspected the incident to be orchestrated by “some tourists from Punjab”. Kangra SP Kushal Sharma said the incident happened late night or early morning. “It is believed that it could be an act of a traveller from Punjab. We registered a case in this connection.”
Thakur said that his government will review the security along the borders with various states. “The activation of terrorist modules in neighbouring states is more worrying. Himachal needs to be prepared in view of terrorist incidents in Punjab, Haryana as well as in Jammu and Kashmir. Security in the state has been beefed up.”
Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh launched a scathing attack on the Himachal BJP unit over the incident, stating how a government will “save the people” when “it cannot save the Legislative Assembly”.
Taking to Twitter, Sanjay Singh said, “The entire BJP is trying to save one goon and Khalistani put up the flags there. Khalistani flags were put on the Legislative Assembly. How will a government that cannot save the Legislative Assembly save the people?”
Linking the incident with the “respect of Himachal Pradesh”, the AAP MP said that the BJP government in the state has “failed completely”. “This is a matter of respect for Himachal Pradesh. It is a matter of security of the country. The BJP government has failed completely,” Singh tweeted further.
A few days ago, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, the chief of Sikhs For Justice, had written to the CM of Himachal threatening to put up Khalistani flags in the state. Pannu had threatened in the letter that he would hoist the flag of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and Khalistan in Shimla.
Shilpi Biakta, SDM Dharamshala, said: “We are inquiring about the matter. A case will be registered under appropriate sections of Himachal Pradesh Open Places Act 1985. This is a kind of event for us to be alert and work by being more alert.”
The state police on Sunday booked banned outfit “Sikhs for Justice” (SFJ) general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and called him the “main accused” in the case.
Police registered an FIR under Sections 153-A and 153-B of IPC, Section 3 of HP Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1985, and Section 13 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) at Dharamshala Police station against Pannun. “Keeping in view the incidents of Khalistani elements in the neighbouring states and also the incident of tying a Khalistani banner took place in Una district on April 11 and the recent incident of hoisting banners and graffiti of Khalistan on the outer boundary of Vidhan Sabha in Dharamshala as well as the threat posed by Sikhs for Justice (SJF) regarding the announcement of June 6 as voting date for the Khalistan Referendum in Himachal Pradesh, the DGP-HP has issued directions to the field formations to remain on high alert from today,” said the statement issued by the Himachal Pradesh Police.
“ADGP-CID, IG/DIG Ranges and District SPs have been directed to seal all interstate borders/barriers and keep strict vigil at the places of probable hideouts i.e. hotels and sarais etc. They have been directed to keep the Special Security Units (SsUs), Bomb Disposal Squads and Quick Reactions Teams (QRTs) in position and on high alert and strengthen the security of dams, railway stations, bus stands, towns, government building and vital installations,” the statement added.
The field formations have been directed to sensitize all the security staff and chowkidars of government buildings, banks, and public sector undertakings with regard to the threat and they may be advised to report any matter of concern to the local police station immediately.
Sikhs for Justice had threatened to hoist the Khalistani flag on March 29, but due to tight security arrangements, it could not succeed in its nefarious designs. It is being said that Pannu is furious due to the ban on Bhindranwale and Khalistan-backed flags in Himachal. In fact, being a neighbouring state of Punjab, intelligence agencies are also on alert in Himachal. Vigilance has also increased with the capture of terrorist modules in Punjab and Haryana. Recently, four suspected terrorists of Babbar Khalsa were arrested from Haryana’s Karnal. A cache of weapons was confiscated from them.
With agency inputs