Over 12 linked to farm stir get NIA notices in SFJ case

JALANDHAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has sent notices to at least a dozen more people including Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu’s brother and other Sikh activists associated with the farmers' protest. The WhatsApp notices received on Friday by them pertain to a case registered by the agency at Delhi on December 15, 2020, under the provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), sedition, criminal conspiracy and other charges against Sikhs for Justice (a banned outfit) legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and his associates.
The issue of NIA notices sent to four persons prior to this had figured in the meeting between central agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar and farmers unions’ leaders on Friday during the 9th round of talks with the government. Prior to this, a Ludhiana-based bus operator, a nut bolt manufacturer and a cable operator had been sent such notices.
The farmer representatives took strong exception to the notices being sent to four persons who have been supporting the protest.
The notices, sent under Section 160 of the CrPC, calling them as witnesses in the case state that those being summoned appeared acquainted with the circumstances of the case and asked them to appear before the investigating officer for examination.
As per Sikh circles, the number of those who received these notices could be still higher. Deep Sidhu told a web channel on Friday that his brother Mandeep Singh had received the notice. The NIA notice has asked the recipients to appear before the agency on different dates from January 17 to 19.
Jalandhar-based writer and commentator Balwinder Pal Singh, who has been regularly writing in support of the farmers’ protest, has also been asked to appear before NIA investigating officer on December 18 A former college lecturer and journalist, Balwinderpal has a few books on Sikhism and scores of articles to his credit, and has been actively writing on Sikh and Punjab affairs on his Facebook as well as in an overseas Punjabi periodical. He has been advocating an alliance between minorities and Dalits. He said he had faced a serious medical condition due to Covid-19 infection in October and remained hospitalized for around three weeks, including a week in intensive care unit. "I am not even aware of the details of the case and have nothing to do with SFJ or its activities," he said on Friday after receiving the notice.
Jasveer Singh, a resident of Muktsar, who has been working with a Sikh channel, has also got the notice. The others are Karnail Singh of Ghorewaha village of Hoshiarpur, Surinder Singh Thikriwal of Barnala, Inderpal Singh Judge of Ludhiana, Nobeljit Singh of Hoshiarpur, Palwinder Singh of Moga, Pardeep Singh of Ayali Kalan, Ludhiana, Paramjit Singh Amritsar and Ranjit Singh of Amritsar.
The NIA notice mentions that the case has been registered under various sections of the IPC and the UAPA. Apart from Pannun, UK resident Paramjit Singh Pamma and Canadian resident Hardeep Singh Nijjar have also been named in the case while others are "unknown".
Before this, a Ludhianabased bus operator, a nut bolt manufacturer and a cable operator had been sent such notices. They have been involved in facilitating people’s movement towards Delhi border. Commentator and journalist Baltej Pannu, too, had got the notice.