Border area SPs told to coordinate with Punjab counterparts

A day after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu assured that DGP-level officers of both the state will hold talks over the vandalisation of Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) in Punjab, the Himachal Pradesh police has directed the Superintendent of Police (SP) of districts having borders with Punjab to coordinate with the SSPs of the concerned districts for coordination as well as to keep a strict vigil on miscreants.

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As per the police sources, talks were held between the senior police officers of both the states in which Punjab police assured appropriate action in the matter and also issued directions to its SSPs to coordinate with Himachal Police and maintain strict vigil on border areas.

The issue started when a video of some locals of Himachal Pradesh removing pro-Khalistani flags from the vehicles of Punjab youths, who were on their way to Manikaran in Kullu district, went viral on social media, angering a certain section of people in Punjab. As per the police, appropriate action has been taken in this matter on both parties and the matter has now been resolved. However, the incident drew flak from people of certain sections in Punjab who demanded action in this matter and stated that vehicles of the state as well as buses entering Punjab must bear posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala.

The issue further escalated some miscreants vandalising an HRTC bus in Kharar in Punjab and some people pasting posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala on HRTC buses. As per the reports, an HRTC bus en route to Hamirpur from Chandigarh was stopped by a car on the Kharar flyover, after which miscreants proceeded to smash the windows of the bus. However, no passengers were injured. In another incident, stones were pelted at an HRTC bus near Sirhind in Punjab. FIRs have been filed in both cases.

As a precautionary measure, HRTC proceeded to suspend 10 routes to Punjab. The issue also made its way to the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly where Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur expressed concern over the matter and demanded the Chief Minister to take appropriate action. The CM then stated that he has held discussions with his counterpart in Punjab who assured him that action will be taken against those responsible for the incident.

Meanwhile, police stated that certain sections of both the states were trying to unnecessarily foment tensions between the two states while saner sections from both the state have condemned these incidents and have appealed for peace between the two states.