Key SFJ operative sent to NIA remand

MOHALI: The National Investigating Agency (NIA) court in Mohali on Tuesday remanded one of the key conspirators of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) outfit for recruiting radical Sikh youths in custody till June 29.

Pargat Singh, 23, a resident of Tarmala in Muktsar, was arrested on June 22. The NIA said he was recruiting Sikh youth on the directions of foreign handlers in a bid to create unrest in the country. A case was registered in Amritsar on October 19, 2018, under Sections 124A, 153-A, 153-B and 120-B of the Indian penal Code. During investigations, Sections 17, 18, 19 of UA (P) Act and Section 25 of Arms Act were added. Police filed a chargesheet against 11 accused in the case in March 2019. This case was subsequently re-registered by the NIA on April 5 this year for further investigation.

The NIA said the case is related to series of acts of violence, including acts of arson in Punjab during 2017-18. Carrying out of propaganda activities, both online and on ground, campaigns in support of SFJ’s ‘Referendum 2020’, including pasting of posters in Delhi and various parts of Punjab, committed by groups of radicalised youths under direction of and financial assistance from SFJ handlers located abroad.

TAKSAL FACTION LEADER AJNALA GRILLED FOR 4 HOURS

An NIA team on Tuesday grilled Amrik Singh Ajnala, leader of a splinter group of Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal, in connection with a case registered by it under multiple charges including sedition and unlawful activities.

Ajnala was called to a government-owned guest house by the NIA, where he was quizzed for around four hours. The team members visited Gurmat Vidyala Damdami Taksal, Ajnala’s base here.

As per sources, the NIA registered a case on April 5 under Sections 124-A (sedition), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc), 153-B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.