SFJ issues fresh threat, 4-day police remand for accused
Was arrested by the Himachal police’s SIT on Wednesday, while his accomplice managed to flee
DHARAMSHALA/SHIMLA: A Dharamshala court on Thursday remanded Harbir Singh alias Raju, who is accused of putting up Khalistan flags at the gate of Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, to four-day police custody. A resident of Morinda in Punjab’s Rupnagar, he was arrested by the HP Police’s SIT on Wednesday.
The second accused, Paramjit Singh gave the cops a slip and is still at large.
Harbir was produced in the court of civil judge-cum-judicial magistrate Shubhangi Joshi in the afternoon and later taken to an undisclosed location.
Police sources said he was also taken to the places where he and Paramjit had stayed.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannu of the banned pro-khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) claimed responsibility for the act through an email sent to media houses.
The SIT claimed that the accused were also involved in putting up a Khalistan banner on Rupnagar DC office complex on April 13.
Pannun’s audio message
Meanwhile, Pannun in an audio message sent through a mail to media houses issued fresh threats to Himachal chief minister Jai Ram Thakur and DGP Sanjay Kundu.
He announced a reward of $25,000 to anyone who will provide information about foreign visits of Thakur and Kundu.
“The SFJ had asked you not to take any action against the activists who hoisted Khalistan flag at Vidhan Sabha. Now the war is on. SFJ will give USD 25,000 for providing information of foreign visits of CM Thakur and DGP Kundu, or any other minister of Himachal or their family members,” said Pannun. Responding to threats issued by Pannun, DGP Kundu said: “We will not be cowed down by these threats. We are doing our job. The police have already sought assistance from the Interpol to get a red cornered notice against him.”
AAP corners govt again Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has again slammed the Himachal government over the incident. Former DGP and AAP state spokesperson ID Bhandari said the accused were arrested only after a statewide protest by his party.
“Still, the second accused in the case dogged the cops and manage to flee which puts a question mark on the functioning of the state police,” he added.
Bhandari said had there been proper security arrangement at the Vidhan Sabha, the incident would not have been happened.
Jai Ram hits back
Jai Ram Thakur covertly hit back at the AAP and said, “Ever since a political change has taken place in a particular state, some people have started throwing challenges and are also executing their plans at some places.”
On the fresh threats issued by Pannun, he said, “Since it is a tourist season, we have also beefed up the security in HP and increased surveillance.”