SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Police have sealed all borders and constituted the special investigation team (SIT) to nab the culprits involved in putting up banners and graffiti of Khalistan on the gate and walls of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha complex at Tapovan in Dharamshala in Kangra district. The incident has raised a political storm in Himachal Pradesh.
The banners and graffities in Punjabi language were spotted in the morning on the gates and boundary of the Tapovan Vidhan Sabha complex that has set social media on fire. The netizens expressed their outrage on social media against this “inflammatory and anti-social act targeting provocation”.
After Tapovan incident came to light today morning, police have lodged an FIR under Sections 153-A, 153-B IPC and Section 3 of HP Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1985 at Police Station Dharamshala on the complaint of Ram Chand, Ajay Kumar of village Kaned, Tehsil Dharamshala, district Kangra in connection with the hoisting of banners and graffiti of Khalistan on the outer boundary of Vidhan Sabha.
Stringent Action will Be taken against Culprits
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the search for culprits is on and CCTV footages are being investigated in connection with the case. “The wrong doers wherever they are would be caught soon and their act of cowardice will not last long and stringent action will be taken against them, Thakur asserted.
But the Opposition Congress has trolled the Jai Ram Thakur on this issue terming it a major security lapse on the part of the police in Tapovan.
Congress Terms it a Major Security Lapse
Vidhan Sabha complex is not an ordinary place, it is the seat of State Legislature, said Congress president Pratibha Singh. It is shocking there was no policeman on duty at Tapovan and it speaks volumes about the kind of administration the BJP government is running in Himachal Pradesh, she charged, demanding probe into the whole incident bringing the culprits to book.
This “inflammatory incident followed few months after the state police had intercepted few people from Amritsar at the border. They were travelling in their private vehicle hoisting Khalistan’s protagonist Bindranwale banner and flags, but police refused them entry and tore the flags.
HP Police SIT to Probe Incident Expeditiously
Himachal Pradesh DGP has constituted a SIT headed by Santosh Patial, DIG-Intelligence and Security, Dharamshala. Other police officers of the SIT are Puneet Raghu, additional SP Kangra, Chander Paul, SDPO Jawalaji, Sushant Sharma, DSP, CID Mandi, Sidharath Sharma, SDPO, Jawali, SHO Police Station, Dharamshala and Incharge Police Post, Yol for the investigation of this case.
Kundu stated in the order that the SIT has been directed to take up the investigation of this case immediately and carry out professional and impartial investigation to ensure transparency.
The SIT has also been directed to contact with the State and Central Intelligence agencies to unearth the Inter-State and International linkages of the case.
Kundu said SIT will investigate the above case thoroughly and expeditiously to meet the ends of justice and will update the Police Headquarters with regard to the progress of investigation periodically.
