Chandigarh:
Following provocative vandalism of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Meeting constructing this morning and a banned group’s ‘Khalistan’ referendum name, the hill state has stepped up safety from tonight. Interstate borders have been sealed and police barricades positioned there. Strict vigil of motels and different “possible hideouts” has additionally been ordered. Bomb disposal items have been placed on excessive alert and safety strengthened for vital state infrastructure, the official order stated.
Safety has been placed on excessive alert on the state borders and “intensive” night time patrolling by the police has been ordered.
The renewed safety measure comes after the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) introduced that it’s going to maintain a ‘Khalistan’ referendum on June 6 in Himachal Pradesh. The order copy additionally particulars a number of latest incidents involving pro-Khalistan actions in neighbouring states.
Chief Minister Jairam Thakur had this morning ordered an investigation after flags of ‘Khalistan’ had been discovered draped over the gates and boundary wall of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Meeting in Dharamshala and pro-Khalistan graffiti was painted on its partitions.
The state police had stated they believe the involvement of vacationers from Punjab.
Chief Minister Thakur had stated he will overview the safety alongside the borders with neighbouring states — Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Punjab. Himachal Pradesh attracts vacationers from throughout India.
An intelligence alert issued on April 26 had warned of such an incident, sources stated.
The alert claimed that the chief of Sikhs for Justice, Gurupatwant Singh Pannu, had issued a letter to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister stating {that a} flag of Bhindranwale and Khalistan can be hoisted in Shimla, sources stated.
Himachal Pradesh had banned autos carrying Bhindranwale and Khalsitani flags, which agitated the SFJ. The organisation had introduced that it will hoist the Khalistani flag on March 29 however couldn’t achieve this as a result of heavy safety.
“I condemn the cowardly incident of elevating Khalistan flags on the gate of Dharamshala Meeting Advanced in the dead of night of night time. Solely winter session is held right here, so there’s a want for extra safety preparations solely throughout that point,” Chief Minister Thakur tweeted in Hindi this morning.
“Profiting from this, this cowardly incident has been carried out, however we is not going to tolerate it. This incident will likely be investigated instantly and strict motion will likely be taken towards the culprits. I wish to inform these those who when you’ve got the braveness, then come out within the gentle of day, not in the dead of night of night time,” a second tweet learn.