Khalistani Flag Incident: Three days after the Khalistani Flags were found hoisted at the main gate of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Complex, the Himachal Police on Wednesday arrested a Punjab resident in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur announced that one of the two persons allegedly involved has been arrested. Harvir Singh, a resident of Morinda, has been arrested.
Himachal Pradesh Police had identified Harvir Singh and Paramjit Singh as main accused in the case. On Wednesday morning, Police raided the Morinda area of Ropar and arrested Harvir Singh.
A police team also raided Paramjit Singh's house, but could not arrest him as the accused had absconded.
Flags, as well as pro-Khalistan slogans, were written on the walls of the assembly complex at Dharamsala, where the winter session of the Vidhan Sabha is taking place.
Condemning the incident which took place on the morning of May 8, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had said, "I condemn the cowardly act of hoisting the Khalistan flag at the gate of Dharamshala Assembly Complex in the dark of night. There is only the winter session of the Vidhan Sabha, so strict security arrangements are needed during that time.”
Following the incident, the Himachal Pradesh Police has registered a case against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, leader of Sikhs for Justice in the US, under the Anti-Terrorist Act, UAPA and other penalties.
Himachal Pradesh Police Chief Sanjay Kundu had said that Pannun was the main accused under Section 13 of the Prevention of Illegal Activities Act and Sections 153A and 153B of the Indian Penal Code as well as Section 3 of the HP Open Place (Prevention of HP) Act. The case has been registered as Disfigurement) Act, 1985.
While Section 13 of the UAPA deals with the offence of inciting or inciting terrorism, Sections 153A and 153B of the IPC deal with offences of inciting communal or sectarian strife and hostility.
Kundu said that an FIR was registered against Pannun and others on the complaint of Ram Chand alias Ajay Kumar of Kaner village under Dharamsala tehsil of Kangra district.
