Nalagarh MLA warned against hoisting Tricolour

Pro-Khalistani elements are once again targeting the state with Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, who claims to be the head of the banned organization Sikhs for Justice, threatening Nalagarh MLA Hardeep Singh Bawa through a telephonic call yesterday. Pannu warned him that if the Tricolor was hoisted on the soil of Himachal on the occasion August 15, it would have serious consequences.

After the threatening call, the MLA has lodged a complaint at Nalagarh police station. SP Baddi Vinod Dhiman confirmed the incident and said a case under section 351 (2) of the BNS for criminal intimidation has been registered. Probe revealed that the call was made from a UK based number 44 7537 121095 in which Pannu tried to intimidate the MLA.

Bawa has made it clear that he won't be deterred by such threats. “This Tricolor is a symbol of our pride and freedom. We will hoist the national flag on August 15 at all costs,” he said without any fear or hesitation. Police have initiated technical investigation into the call with the help of its cyber cell.

Meanwhile, security of the MLA have been beefed up. The Baddi SP said that investigation is underway into the source of the call and the real identity of the caller is being verified. The incident has also been reported to intelligence agencies and higher officials at the state level.