Himachal: Punjab tourists booked for damage to property, assault; four cases registered

Cases of assault, threatening to kill people and causing damage to public properties have been registered against motorcyclists from Punjab, who had recently visited Himachal Pradesh with objectionable flags on their bikes. Besides, cases under various sections have also been registered against the bikers from Punjab in four incidents.

In the first incident that took place at Manikaran in Kullu district on March 15, several motorcyclists from Punjab have been booked for assaulting locals and illegally carrying weapons. As per a complaint filed by a resident of Kullu district, he was on his way home when he noticed several bikers quarreling with some people. He also noticed that the bikers were carrying black flags displaying the pictures of Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale.

He approached the bikers and requested them to remove the flags as well as stop fighting. This enraged the bikers who started abusing him and threatening to kill him. In the heat of the moment, one of the bikers allegedly tried to assault him with a sword and a stick. The bikers then fled. The police are trying to identify the bikers involved in the incident.

In another case, a biker from Punjab has been booked for threatening to kill a local in Manali. According to a complaint filed by the victim, around 6 pm on March 12, the local police had stopped two youth from Punjab riding a motorcycle bearing HP’s number plate and without wearing helmets.

The motorcycle also had a flag bearing a Bhindrawale’s picture. Upon noticing the flag, the complainant requested the bikers to remove it but the latter instead threatened to kill him.

One of the motorcycle riders identified himself as Deepak, a resident of Gurdaspur district in Punjab. Later, the police registered a case under Sections 152 (Acts endangering sovereignty unity and integrity of India), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 3(5) (joint criminal liability) of the BNS, 2023 and initiated investigation

In yet another incident on March 15, several bikers from Punjab were booked for threatening to kill a local in Kullu district.

As per a complaint filed by the victim, around 10.30 am on March 15, two individuals riding a bike fell on road but were not injured. As the complainant tried to help them, around 10 to 12 bikers from Punjab reached there and threatened him and threw abusive slurs at him.

Meanwhile, several locals gathered there and tried to intervene and resolve the matter. The incident was captured in a video, which was circulated on social media.

As per the police, a case under Sections 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke), 351(2) (criminal force), 3(5) (joint criminal liability) of the BNS, 2023 has been registered and people around the site are being questioned.

In the fourth incident, several tourists from Punjab were booked for damaging public property as well as rioting in Kullu after they refused to pay Rs 50 for hiring bikes in Kullu.