Shimla, July 30 (IANS) US-based banned Pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice has issued a threat to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, saying the latter won't be allowed to hoist the national flag in the hill state.
In recorded telephonic calls to journalists, the caller identified himself as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and said, "We will not allow Jai Ram Thakur to hoist the Indian tricolour. Himachal Pradesh was part of Punjab and we are seeking a referendum in Punjab. Once we liberate Punjab, we will make sure that we take over areas of Himachal Pradesh which were parts of Punjab."
Responding to the threat calls, the state police informed in a tweet: "We are in receipt of pre-recorded message from pro-Khalistani elements from oversees sent to some journalists.
"Himachal Pradesh police are fully capable of securing the state and preventing anti-national elements from thwarting peace and security in the state in corporation with the central security and intelligence agencies."
"Out of the 400 odd items that the industry makes, only one item - a single sound cracker - has been approved by PESO till date as the 'green' cracker for manufacture," the fire cracker maker, speaking on condition of anonymity, told IANS.
Intense back channel exercise by Indian side is underway to arrange a meeting of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Pakistani coounterpart Imran Khan, a Pakistan media report claimed on Tuesday.
Charanjeet Singh and Sanjeev were shot at Trenz by 3-4 militants around 7.30 pm, police said. They were taken to the district hospital in Pulwama in a critical condition, where Charanjeet succumbed to his injuries.
Sources said the terrorists have been targeting labourers, who have come to Jammu and Kashmir from outside the state, to create fear among them and disrupt trade.
Pakistan will allow 5,000 pilgrims daily on the corridor that will link Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Punjab state to Darbar Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan’s Kartarpur.
