NIA casts web extensive: A author, journalists, merchants and activists

Among these summoned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a case of alleged terror funding by the pro-Khalistan organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) are farmers, shopkeepers, activists, and journalists from Punjab and Haryana.
The NIA, which is investigating a number of circumstances in opposition to SFJ, registered a recent case in opposition to the proscribed organisation on December 15, 2020. The FIR mentioned SFJ was sending overseas funds by way of NGOs to “pro-Khalistani” components for “on-ground campaign and propaganda against Government of India”.
All these summoned by the NIA within the case are united by their affiliation, not directly or the opposite, with the farmers’ protest in opposition to the three farm legal guidelines on the borders of Delhi. The company questioned 5 individuals on Monday, officers mentioned.
Among those that have obtained notices from the NIA is Jasbir Singh Rode, a former Akal Takht Jathedar and nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Rode, who says he’s affiliated to the International Panthak Dal and Kisan Bachao Morcha, has been protesting at Singhu since December 2.
Some of the others who’ve obtained summons from the NIA are:
# Balwinder Pal Singh is a author from Jalandhar who writes on Sikh and Dalit points. “I got Covid-19 in October and I am yet to recover fully. I have been continuously writting on the farm agitation and against government policies regarding farmers, labourers, Sikhs and Dalits. I have sent a medical certificate and requested NIA to postpone my hearing till I recover,” Balwinder Pal Singh mentioned.
# Jasveer Singh of Muktsar and Tajinder Singh of Amritsar are journalists with tv channels Ok TV and Akal Channel respectively. Monu Singh of Ludhiana is a video editor with Ok TV. Jasveer and Tajinder mentioned they believed that they had been summoned for his or her studies on the farmers’ agitation. “They want to silence the media that is not peddling government news to defame farm agitations,” Tajinder mentioned. Jasveer mentioned Monu and he had requested that their look ought to be delayed.
# Winner Singh, a contract journalist from Ambala, was lately questioned in reference to the receipt of Rs 6 lakh from Sikh Channel, a TV channel that broadcasts within the UK and Canada.
# Gurcharan Singh, 65, is related to the Sikh militant Jagtar Singh Hawara. “I have given money to some families who lost their loved ones due to the farm agitation. Maybe the government wants to know the source of my funds,” he mentioned.
# Nobeljit Singh (37) and Karnail Singh (55) from Hoshiarpur belong to the Sikh organisation Awaz-e-Kaum. “We have been supporting these protests from day one. We participated in the blockade of the toll plaza in Hoshiarpur and organising langar for the protesters,” Nobeljit, who has a material store, mentioned. Karnail mentioned: “We are not afraid of these summons, we will continue to protest against the farm laws.”
# Three committee members of Sikh Youth Power of Punjab (SYPOP), Palwinder Singh, Parmjit Singh Akali, and Pardeep Singh have obtained summons; Palwinder Singh appeared earlier than the NIA on Monday. “Farmer unions say we don’t need to appear, but we will appear before the NIA as we have nothing to hide. Our motive is to empower Sikh youth. We have no relationship with SFJ,” Parmjit Singh Akali mentioned. The SYPOP is working a langar at Singhu border.
# Ranjit Singh Damdami Taksal calls himself a Khalistani activist, however mentioned he has nothing to do with SFJ. “I had distribution turbans at the farmer 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 mentioned.
# Gurpreet Singh Mintu Malwa from Ludhiana runs an NGO known as Manukhta Di Seva (Service of Humanity), which has organised a langar at Singhu. “The government is trying to cow us down,” he mentioned.
# Surender Singh Thikriwala, a Sikh activist, has been tenting at Singhu and distributing water, biscuits, and T-shirts with footage of Bhindranwale to protesters. “The NIA wants to threaten us. I will follow the instructions of the farmer unions on the NIA notices. I did not appear on the date I was given,” he mentioned.
# Jang Singh is an activist who works for Sikh prisoners who he says stay in jail regardless of having accomplished their sentences. “I am also active in the farmers’ agitation. The government is sending us these notices because it wants to prove that Khalistanis are behind this agitation,” he mentioned.
# Rishamjit Gabha and Naresh, two businessmen from Ludhiana who’re mentioned to be companions in Nankana Bus Company, have obtained summons.
Home Ministry sources mentioned all those that have been summoned have lately obtained funds from overseas from sources that seem doubtful. “At this moment none of those who are being summoned are accused or suspects. But if they are in receipt of foreign funds, the agency has all the right to ask what these funds are meant for,” a Ministry official mentioned.
Sources mentioned the NIA can be taking a look at open funding platforms equivalent to Gofundme the place, they claimed, greater than $ 1 lakh has been collected within the title of farmers’ protests.

“We have no quarrel with funds being collected to support farmers’ protests. But there is suspicion that some of these funds collected in the name of farmers has been diverted by certain vested interests to fund secessionist activities of the SFJ. That part needs investigation,” the official mentioned.
MHA sources mentioned the investigation was ordered within the wake of protests organised lately by SFJ and different such entities in entrance of Indian missions overseas. During the course of investigations sure monetary trails have been discovered that are being probed.
“The foreign countries where protests have happened have not acted against these outfits and so NIA, which has foreign jurisdiction, has been given the probe. The probe has found funds coming from the US, UK, and Canada to several people in Punjab. Some of these are from known SFJ entities. Not everything is going to the farmers’ protests. There are other activities such as propaganda or other subversive activities,” the official mentioned.