Himachal Seals Borders After Khalistani Flags Found On Assembly Gates; Leader Booked Under UAPA

The Himachal Pradesh Police booked Sikhs for Justice leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun under anti-terror law UAPA and "sealed" the state's borders after Khalistsni flags were put up on the gates of the state assembly complex in Dharamshala on Sunday.

Himachal Pradesh police chief Sanjay Kundu also ordered the sealing of the state's border and beefing up of the state-wide security, citing "pro-Khalistan activities" in the state and the banned outfit's announcement of a Khalistan "referendum day" on June 6.

The "sealing" of the border implies strict checks on vehicles and people entering the hilly state, police said.

Sikh leader booked under UAPA

HP Director General of Police Kundu said Pannun has been booked as the main accused under section 13 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and sections 153 A and 153 B of the India Penal Code, besides section 3 of the HP Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1985.

Agencies

While section 13 of the UAPA pertains to the offence of inciting or abetting terror acts, sections 153 A and 153 B of the IPC deal with the offences of promoting communal or sectarian divides and animosity.

Kundu said the FIR against Pannun and others was lodged on the complaint of Ram Chand alias Ajay Kumar of Kaned village under Dharamshala tehsil of the Kangra district.

In a statement here on Sunday evening, the DGP said, "Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the general counsel to Sikhs for Justice has been made the main accused in the case."

The case was lodged at Dharamshala police station, he added The HP DGP also set up a seven-member Special Investigation Team to expeditiously investigate the case involving the putting up of Khalistani banners and scrawling of pro-Khalistan slogans and graffiti over the outer walls near the main gate of the Himachal legislative assembly complex Tapovan in Dharamshala.

FIR has been registered against whoever tied Khalistan flags & wrote Khalistan outside the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in Dharamshala today. Investigation process has been initiated; our efforts are to nab them as soon as possible: Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur pic.twitter.com/HRgmuIQpKK

¡ª ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2022

The members of the SIT are Kangra's Additional Superintendent of Police Puneet Raghu, Jawalaji's Sub-Divisional Police Officer Chander Paul, Mandi's Deputy SP (CID) Sushant Sharma, Jawali SDPO Sidharath Sharma, besides the Dharamshala police station's SHO and the Yol police post in-charge, the DGP said in his statement.

Condemn cowardly act of putting up Khalistan flags at gate of Dharamshala Assembly Complex.Only Winter Session is held in this Assembly,so there's a need for more security arrangements here during that time. Incident will be probed&strict action will be taken: Himachal Pradesh CM pic.twitter.com/uaxEhEi0By

¡ª ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2022

The SIT has been directed to take up the investigation of the case immediately and carry out a professional and impartial investigation to ensure transparency, the HP police chief said.

"The SIT has also been directed to contact with the state and central intelligence agencies to unearth the inter-state and international linkages if any," he added.

Borders sealed, security beefed up

Kundu also ordered to "seal" the state's border and beef up security at crowded and sensitive places in Himachal Pradesh.

#WATCH Khalistan flags found tied on the main gate & boundary wall of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in Dharamshala today morning pic.twitter.com/zzYk5xKmVg

¡ª ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2022

The HP DGP also asked the various field formations of the HP Police to remain on high alert in view of the incidents of Khalistani elements in the neighbouring states and also that of the putting up of a Khalistani banner in the Una district on April 11.

His directions followed "also in view of the incident of hoisting banners and graffiti of Khalistan on the outer boundary of Vidhan Sabha in Dharamshala as well as the threat posed by SJF's announcement of June 6 as the voting date for Khalistan Referendum in Himachal Pradesh".

Additional DGP-CID, range IGs and DIGs and district police chiefs too have been directed "to seal all interstate borders/barriers and keep a strict vigil at the places of probable hideouts i.e. hotels and inns of criminal elements, he said.

Pannun had earlier also called for hoisting the Khalistani flag in Shimla on April 29.

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