HP Police beefs up security against SFJ plans for June 6

Shimla, May 8: Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a separatist outfit promoting the idea of Khalistan has said that it would conduct what it calls the “Khalistan Referendum” on June 6, 2022 in Himachal Pradesh. The state police have beefed up security at major installations across the state as some miscreants had put up “Khalistan” flags on the boundary walls of HP assembly gates in Tapovan in Kangra district today. A police spokesperson accepted the activities of pro-Khalistan organization called SFJ in Himachal Pradesh stating that a FIR has been lodged u/s 153-A, 153-B IPC and section 3 of HP Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1985, in Police Station, Dharamshala. The state Police were caught off guard today after the incident of hoisting banners and graffiti of Khalistan on the outer boundary of Vidhan Sabha. Now police had added section 13 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in the FIR making a US based person named Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, General Counsel to Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) the main accused in the case. State Director General of Police Mr. Sanjay Kundu said in a press statement today that keeping in view the incidents of Khalistani separatist elements in neighboring States and also the incident of putting up of a Khalistani banner in Una district on 11.04.2022 and today’s incident of hoisting banners and graffiti of Khalistan on the outer boundary of Vidhan Sabha in Dharamshala. He informed that the Sikhs for Justice (SJF) threatened that of 6th June, 2022 voting would be conducted on the s o called “Khalistan Referendum” in Himachal Pradesh. DGP-HP has issued directions to the field formations to remain on high alert from today onwards. ADGP-CID, IG and DIG Ranges and Distt. 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 field formations have been directed to sensitize all the security staff or chowkidars of Government buildings, Banks, Public Sector Undertakings with regard to the threat.

Congress activists and Legislator Vikramaditya Singh on Sunday protested against the slumbering of Jai Ram Thakur Government after hoisting of Pro-Khalistan flag in HP Assembly at Tapovan in Dharamshala. (UNI)