Khalistan Flags At HP Assembly: SFJ Leader Pannu Booked Under UAPA, State Borders 'Sealed' As SIT Begins Probe

Sikhs for Justice leader Gurpatwant Pannun has been booked as the main accused under UAPA besides section 3 of the HP Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1985.

Khalistani banners and scrawling of pro-Khalistan slogans and graffiti were put up over the outer walls near the main gate of the Himachal legislative assembly complex Tapovan in Dharamshala. ( Image Source :ANI )

New Delhi: The Himachal Pradesh Police has booked Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun under anti-terror law UAPA and sealed the state's borders after Khalistani flags were put up on the gates of the state assembly complex in Dharamshala on Sunday. Himachal Pradesh police chief Sanjay Kundu cited pro-Khalistan activities in the state and the banned outfit's announcement of a Khalistan referendum day on June 6 as he ordered the sealing of the state's border with beefing up of the state-wide security.

The sealing of the border involves strict checks on vehicles and people entering the hilly state, news agency PTI reported the police as saying.

HP Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu stated that Sikhs for Justice leader Gurpatwant 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.

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.

The FIR against Pannun and others was lodged following the complaint of Ram Chand alias Ajay Kumar of Kaned village under Dharamshala tehsil of the Kangra district, the state police chief informed.

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

In a statement 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."

Seven-Member Special Investigation Team To Probe Incident

The DGP has also set up a seven-member Special Investigation Team to expeditiously probe 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.

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 informed in his statement, as reported by PTI.

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.

He further stated that the SIT has also been directed to contact the state and central intelligence agencies to unearth the inter-state and international linkages if any, he added.

The police chief has also ordered to seal the state's border and beef up security at crowded and sensitive places in Himachal Pradesh.

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

The directions, following the Vidhan Sabha incident, are also in view of the threat posed by SFJ'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, DGP Kundu said.

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 buildings and vital installations, he added, as quoted by PTI.

The field formations have been directed to sensitise all the security staff/chowkidars of government buildings, banks, PSUs about the threat and to advise them to report any matter of concern to the local police station immediately.

(With Agency Inputs)