The office of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) at Barakhambha Road was vandalised by the members of a right-wing group on Thursday. It is alleged that Hindu Sena activists led by Vishnu Gupta vandalised furniture and computers installed in the PIA office. New Delhi district police officials arrested one person involved in vandalism.
"The arrested person has been identified as lalit Singh, who is a member of Hindu Sena. Efforts are on to nab his associates," DCP (New Delhi) Jatin Narwal said.
A senior Delhi Police official said that National Security Act (NSA) was being invoked against Vishnu Gupta and others as they are habitual offenders and have indulged in activities in the past, detrimental to the peace in the society.
The four activists of Hindu Sena entered the PIA office and started vandalising furniture and computers kept there. They also scattered some pamphlets while they dismantled a miniature replica of an airplane installed near the reception desk. The outfit blamed Pakistan for the attacks on Pathankot airbase and the Indian consulate in Afghanistan. "There should be no talks with Pakistan unless they take stern action against people behind the attacks and hand over people like Dawood Ibrahim and Hafiz Saeed to India," the pamphlet stated
According to the police, the incident took place around 3.15 pm when four Hindu Sena members entered the premises of PIA's city office on the fifth floor of Narayan Manzil in the outer fringes of Connaught Place. By the time police teams reached the spot, three of them had fled and Singh was nabbed. Security was stepped up near the PIA office after the incident. A central security force team was also rushed there later, police said.
Owning responsibility for the incident, Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta said, "Through this act, the members of our Delhi unit have expressed their anger and sent a message to Pakistan that they should respect our sentiments and keep in mind that we are not weak."
Gupta was arrested last October, days after he called up the police alleging that "beef" (cow meat) being served at Kerala house canteen in New Delhi area. including the office of Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. The PIA office was vandalised in August 2013 too, allegedly by a right wing group in the wake of the death of an Indian soldier in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan forces along the loC.