Khalistani slogans found written on walls outside the IPH office Dharamshala
Before the Cricket World Cup match to be held on October 7 in Dharamshala, Himachal, Khalistani slogans were found written on the wall outside the IPH Chief Engineer office. However, late on Tuesday night the police painted over these slogans and removed them. Slogans like Himachal Banega Khalistan, and SFJ Zindabad were written on the wall. Sikh for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannu has also released a video regarding this. Pannu said that today SFJ Zindabad raids have taken place in Dharamshala. In the video, he was seen threatening Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Pannu called the final match of the World Cup to be held on November 19 in Ahmedabad as the World Terror Cup. The slogans were seen written on the wall of the government office by a local person. He immediately informed the police. After which the slogans were cleaned in the presence of officials. The police have started scanning the CCTV cameras installed nearby. Earlier, in May 2022, Pannu had written Khalistani slogans outside the assembly complex in Dharamshala. Kangra Police took action and arrested two youth residents of Morinda, Punjab.
As per the Police – On the intervening night of 03.10.2023, graffiti was found near the IPH Circle Office, Dharamshala. The slogan “Khalistan Zindabad” was written on the wall with black paint. In this regard, a case FIR No 230/23 dated 04-10-2023 u/s 03 of the Himachal Pradesh Open Place (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act-1985 and Section 03 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 1984 has been registered in Police Station Dharamshala, District Kangra. After checking the CCTV footage from around the spot, two suspects have been identified. It is observed that the suspects after writing the slogan clicked photographs of the same. Thus cell phone analysis is also being conducted. Further, a video is being circulated in social media wherein a voice message, reportedly of SFJ General Counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, claiming to target the final match of the ongoing One Day International World Cup-2023 is in circulation. There is a reference to “Himachal Pradesh Banega Khalistan” and pro-Khalistan graffiti and flags in Dharamshala have also been made to avenge the killing of “Nijjer” in Canada. On 03.10.2023, a joint intelligence sharing meeting was also conducted at Dharamshala with officers from Military Intelligence, IB, and CID units for coordination and swift intelligence sharing during the upcoming World Cup matches. In view of the present incident, five additional patrolling teams and local intelligence units have been activated in Dharamshala and Mcleodganj areas. Intensified vigil and surveillance shall be maintained throughout the district. All possible efforts are being made to nab the culprits in the matter and investigate the case.
