Farmers inside a camp set up at the site of the protest. (Express Photo by Ganjendra Yadav)
Among those summoned by the National Investigative Agency (NIA) in a case of alleged terrorism financing by the pro-Khalistan Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) are farmers, traders, activists and journalists from Punjab and Haryana.
The NIA, which is investigating several cases against SFJ, registered a new case against the outlawed organization on December 15, 2020. The FIR said that SFJ was sending foreign funds through NGOs to “pro-Khalistani” elements for “campaigns and propaganda on the ground. ” against the Government of India ”.
All those summoned by the NIA in the case are united by their association, in one way or another, with the farmers’ protest against the three agricultural laws on the borders of Delhi. The agency questioned five people on Monday, authorities said.
Among those who have received notifications from the NIA is Jasbir Singh Rode, former Akal Takht Jathedar and nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Rode, who claims to be affiliated with Panthak Dal International and Kisan Bachao Morcha, has been protesting in Singhu since December 2.
Some of the others who have received citations from the NIA are:
# Balwinder Pal Singh is a Jalandhar writer who writes on Sikh and Dalit issues. “I got Covid-19 in October and have not fully recovered yet. I have been writing continuously about farm turmoil and against government policies regarding farmers, workers, Sikhs, and Dalits. I sent a medical certificate and asked the NIA to postpone my hearing until I recover, ”said Balwinder Pal Singh.
# Jasveer Singh from Muktsar and Tajinder Singh from Amritsar are journalists for K TV and Akal Channel respectively. Ludhiana’s Monu Singh is a video editor with K TV. Jasveer and Tajinder said they believed they had been summoned for their reports on the farmers’ unrest. “They want to silence the media that are not selling government news to smear agricultural unrest,” Tajinder said. Jasveer said that he and Monu had requested that his appearance be delayed.
# Winner Singh, a freelance journalist from Ambala, was recently questioned regarding the reception of Rs 6 lakh from Sikh Channel, a television channel broadcasting in the UK and Canada.
Farmers during a tractor rally rehearsal. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)
# Gurcharan Singh, 65, is associated with Sikh militant Jagtar Singh Hawara. “I have given money to some families who lost their loved ones due to the turmoil on the farm. Maybe the government wants to know the source of my funds, ”he said.
# Nobeljit Singh (37) and Karnail Singh (55) from Hoshiarpur belong to the Sikh organization Awaz-e-Kaum. “We have been supporting these protests from day one. We participated in the blocking of the toll plaza in Hoshiarpur and organized langar for the protesters, “said Nobeljit, who owns a cloth shop. Karnail said: “We are not afraid of these calls, we will continue to protest against the agricultural laws.”
# Three Sikh Youth Power of Punjab (SYPOP) committee members, Palwinder Singh, Parmjit Singh Akali and Pardeep Singh have received subpoenas; Palwinder Singh appeared before the NIA on Monday. “The farmers unions say we don’t need to appear, but we will appear before the NIA because we have nothing to hide. Our motive is to empower Sikh youth. We have no relationship with SFJ, ”said Parmjit Singh Akali. SYPOP is running a langar on the Singhu border.
Farmers on the side of the protest. (Express Photo by Ganjendra Yadav)
# Ranjit Singh Damdami Taksal calls himself a Khalistani activist, but said he has nothing to do with SFJ. “He had distribution turbans at the farmers’ protests. I have bills … I am active as a Khalistani activist since 2012 and I have never used any undemocratic means or violence. I became part of the farmers’ protest because everyone in Punjab is associated with this issue, ”he said.
# Gurpreet Singh Mintu Malwa from Ludhiana runs an NGO called Manukhta Di Seva (Service to Humanity), which has organized a langar in Singhu. “The government is trying to intimidate us,” he said.
# Surender Singh Thikriwala, a Sikh activist, has been camping in Singhu and distributing water, cookies and T-shirts with photos of Bhindranwale to protesters. “The NIA wants to threaten us. I will follow the instructions of the farmers’ unions in the NIA notices. I didn’t show up on the date they gave me, ”he said.
# Jang Singh is an activist who works for Sikh prisoners who, according to him, remain in prison despite having served their sentences. “I am also actively involved in the agitation of farmers. The government sends us these notices because it wants to show that the Khalistanis are behind this upheaval, ”he said.
# Rishamjit Gabha and Naresh, two Ludhiana businessmen who are allegedly partners with Nankana Bus Company, have received subpoenas.
Interior Ministry sources said that all those summoned have recently received foreign funding from sources that appear dubious. “At this time none of those who are being summoned are accused or suspected. But if they are receiving foreign funds, the agency has every right to ask what these funds are for, ”said a ministry official.
Sources said that the NIA is also looking for open funding platforms like Gofundme where they claim more than $ 1 lakh has been raised on behalf of farmers’ protests.
“We have no problem with the funds raised to support farmer protests. But there is a suspicion that some of these funds raised on behalf of farmers have been diverted by certain vested interests to finance secessionist activities of the SFJ. That part needs investigation, ”the official said.
MHA sources said the investigation was ordered in the wake of protests recently organized by SFJ and other similar entities in front of Indian missions abroad. During the course of investigations, certain financial traces have been found and are being investigated.
“The foreign countries where the protests have taken place have not acted against these teams, so the NIA, which has foreign jurisdiction, has received the investigation. The investigation found funds from the United States, United Kingdom and Canada to various people in Punjab. Some of them are from known entities of SFJ. Not everything is going towards the protests of the peasants. There are other activities such as propaganda or other subversive activities, ”said the official.
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