3 Ludhiana businessmen get NIA summons for sedition

LUDHIANA: Three businessmen of Ludhiana have received summons from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a sedition case on Thursday. The transporters received the summons on WhatsApp and they were asked to appear before NIA officers.

The three businessmen, who got summons in the case, had arranged buses to farmers to reach Delhi to join stir against three farm laws implemented by the central government.

Inderpal Singh Judge of Nankana Bus service said that the farmers hired buses from him to reach Delhi and he had charged nominal fare from them. He had no idea why the NIA has summoned him in a case of sedition, while he is a businessman and he has nothing to do with the any such activities.

Naresh Kumar of Shimlapuri has received a notice on Wednesday on WhatsApp. He is in business of nuts and bolts. Kumar said he is not linked to farmers protest directly or indirectly.

He has been asked to appear before NIA on January 18. Kumar said that one of his friends, Jaspal Singh of Chhoti Jawaddi, had arranged buses for farmers to reach Delhi. He might have mentioned his name or phone number somewhere following which he has received the summons. Jaspal Singh has also received the summons.

The NIA had lodged an FIR against Gurpatwant Singh Pannu of Sikhs for Justice, Paramjit Singh Pamma and Hardeep Singh Nijjar on December 15, 2020, under Sections 120-B, 124 A, 153-A, 153-B of the IPC, Sections 13, 17, 18, 18-B and 20 of the UAPA Act. According to the FIR, terrorist organisations such as Sikhs for Justice, Khalistan Tiger Force and Khalistan Zindabad Force had entered the ongoing farmers protest.

They are generating funds from foreign countries and various other organisations, staging protests in the countries, including the US, UK, Canada and Germany.

According to the FIR, such terrorist organisations have planned disruptive activities intended to damage the government and private property, charged the NIA.