Hindustan Times (Gurugram)

Khalistan flags hung at entrance of HP assembly, probe ordered

- Naresh K Thakur letters@hindustant­imes.com

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday ordered a probe into an incident in which Khalistan flags were found put up and slogans scrawled on the walls of the Himachal Pradesh Legislativ­e Assembly entrance.

Late in the evening, DGP Sanjay Kundu issued an order to seal interstate borders as a preventive measure. He directed all the police stations to keep a vigil at probable hideouts of “anti-social elements”.

The flags, which were tied to the main entrance were spotted by local residents who informed police. A police team subsequent­ly rushed to the spot and removed the flags and erased the slogans.

Banned Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has claimed responsibi­lity for the incident.

“It was an act of cowardice. Those who have done this disgusting thing, they would have done it in broad daylight if they had the guts,” Thakur said, adding that the miscreants took advantage of the low security as only winter session of the assembly is held at the Dharamshal­a complex.

“Police have registered a case and CCTV footages are being analysed. A thorough probe has been ordered,” he added.

Kangra superinten­dent of police Khushal Chand Sharma said: “The act might have been done late night or early in the morning by pro-Khalistan elements, who must have come to the

state as tourists.”

The incident evoked a sharp reaction from the opposition Congress.“It is the government’s failure. This incident has proved that the Jai Ram Thakur-led government is incompeten­t to run the state,” Congress campaign committee chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said. “The government under whose rule such an incident has happened has no right to be in power,” AAP state spokespers­on and retired DGP ID Bhandari said

 ?? ANI ?? Congress MLA Vikramadit­ya Singh and party supporters protest against the incident in Kangra on Sunday.
ANI Congress MLA Vikramadit­ya Singh and party supporters protest against the incident in Kangra on Sunday.

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