Farmers’ stir: NIA to summon more people for probe
Dismissing allegations that it was specifically targeting the farmers’ agitation, National Investigation Agency (NIA) sources claim the investigation agency will issue notices and summon to some more people in the coming days from Punjab in connection with an anti-terror case it had registered last month.
The NIA has issued notices to more than 40 persons, mostly from Punjab who are in some way connected to the ongoing farmers agitation. These people have been summoned to be examined as witnesses in connection with a case lodged by NIA against a pro-Khalistan outfit, the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).
The NIA officials argue that the notices have nothing to do with the farmers protest and presence of these people was required to investigate certain details related to the SFJ case.
These notices have been issued to a cross section of people ranging from farmer and religious leaders to local businessmen and journalists. They have been summoned under Section 160
Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) - Police officer’s power to require attendance of witnesses in FIR no 40/2020 under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Statements of these have been recorded by NIA on Sunday and Monday.
Sources claimed that in the coming days NIA is likely to summon some more people in connection with SFJ case which is related to transfer of funds from abroad to certain outfits within India which are suspected to be linked to the Khalistani movement.
The FIR lodged by NIA names some of the designated terrorists like Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Paramjeet Singh Pamma, Hardeep Singh Nijjar and others who have been involved in collection of funds in countries like United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Germany.
The SFJ was banned in 2019 by Union Home Affairs and in the last five years, 14 cases have been registered against the SFJ in which more than 40 people have been arrested by different State police and investigating agencies.