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."
A 70-year-old man allegedly bludgeoned his 38-year-old wife to death before hanging himself at their house in Shahdara in Delhi, police said on Thursday.
The cause of the death was suggestive of "hypoxia consequent to suffocation and smothering in a borewell". Hypoxia is deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues.
An extensive criminal gang led by Indian-origin gangster Baljinder Kang and his right-hand man, also from India, has been dismantled by UK authorities as the duo were convicted of drug smuggling
Thirty-five years have gone, still there is no whereabouts of over 16,000 artefacts relating to the Sikh religion and history after they were allegedly taken over by the Army following Operation Bluestar from the Golden Temple complex.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said: "Rahul Gandhi was, is and will be the Congress party chief and none of us have any doubt about it."
