BJP Leader Jai Ram Thakur Alleges Snooping Of Residence By Drone In Shimla, CM Denies Charge

Shimla: Jai Ram Thakur, the Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Assembly, on Friday made shocking allegations in the Assembly House accusing that his official residence in Shimla was being monitored using a drone. Thakur claimed that his residence is under surveillance as a drone took four rounds and reached near his doors and windows on a few occasions. The LoP in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly claimed that after the inquiry, it was found that the drone was being operated from the official residence of the Superintendent of Police (SP, Shimla).

Jai Ram Thakur, while raising a point of order during the question hour, said when he enquired about the drone, it came to his notice that the drone was being operated from the residence of the Shimla SP located near his residence.

Jai Ram Thakur Cautioned Officers To Not Cross Limits

The senior BJP leader, while expressing his serious concerns over the drone surveillance of his residence, cautioned the officers to not cross their limits.

Thakur also alleged that earlier, his telephones were being tapped and security personnel were deployed near his house in plain clothes to keep a tab on who was coming at his house. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader called it an intrusion into his privacy.

Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said he has taken cognisance of the matter and will look into it.

Refuting the allegations after the question hour, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu asserted that no surveillance was being done by drone and said he would write to the central agencies, ED and CBI to get the information on whether they were doing it and get the matter investigated.

Sukhu said his government did not believe in spying but was concerned about the security of the leader of opposition (LoP) and if required, security would be provided by police and not drones. In case any official was found involved in phone tapping, strict action would be taken, he added.

Dissatisfied with the reply of the chief minister, Thakur said the police was involved in it and was detaining BJP MLAs in the police station for eight hours. On their way back, they were being recalled from midway, he alleged, and demanded an enquiry against the concerned officials.