Himachal Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur has slammed the latest stunt by pro-Pakistan elements at Dharamshala. “ It’s an act of cowardness .I condemn it. If you have the courage, then come out in the light of day, not in the dark of night", the Chief Minister asserted. He stressed that such acts will not deter state’s fight against anti-national and secessionist groups.
Thakur was referring to a shocking incident when the banned secessionist outfit – Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) planted Khalistan flags ,numbering five to six, and wrote secessionist slogans on the outer wall of Himachal Pradesh assembly at Dharamshala, the second most important town of the state, after Shimla .
SFJ claimed the responsibility of putting-up the flags and also released a video showing the raising of the Khalistan flag ,in the hill state ,currently ruled by the BJP
The SFJ’s push into Himachal is not new. In fact , for the past three to four months , the SFJ spokesman through frequent phone calls and mails to the media persons in Himachal Pradesh had been issuing warnings and threats to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, declaring that Himachal Pradesh will be merged into Punjab .
He issued another statement boasting about putting –up Khalistan flags at Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha in Dharamshala to commemorate the 36th year of “Khalistan Declaration” Day.
Deputy Commissioner Kangra, Nipun Jindal said the flags have been removed and wall graffiti has also been erased .
The Kangra police has lodged an FIR 77/2022 dated 08.05.2022 u/s 153-A, 153-B IPC and section 3 of HP Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1985 at local police station on the basis of complaint lodged by one local native Ram Chand of village Kaned ( Dharamshala) .It claims this as an act of some tourists or miscreants from Punjab to create tensions in the states. These days Himachal Pradesh is full house of tourists visiting major hill destinations including Dharamshala –popular as Tibetan Spiritual leader Dalai Lama's abode and HPCA's international Cricket stadium .
Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Santosh Patial, (DIG-Intelligence & Security) to investigate the hoisting of the banned flags.
Other members of the SIT are Puneet Raghu, Additional SP Kangra, Chander Paul, SDPO Jawalaji (Kangra), Sushant Sharma, DSP (CID Mandi) Sidharath Sharma, SDPO Jawali,(Kangra) and SHO Police station
“The SIT has been directed to take up the investigation of this case immediately and carry out a professional and impartial investigation to ensure transparency. The SIT has also been directed to contact the State and Central Intelligence agencies to unearth the State and International linkages, if any. The orders so issued are attached” said Kundu .
Only last month, a Khalistan flag was also found atop the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Una ,a district bordering Punjab .
Himachal Pradesh police has already upgraded the security of Chief Minister , BJP National President J P Nadda and union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, in view of the threats being issued by the SFJ organisation ,based in the UK.
State unit of the congress held state wide protests to condemn the incident and asked the state government to identify the miscreants indulging in such anti-national activists in the peaceful state, and take strong action.
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