Even as the deadlock over three farm laws continues, The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has summoned around 40 persons including Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu and farmers’ leader Baldev Singh Sirsa, to be examined as ‘witnesses’ in a case related to the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice, The Hindu reported.
Quoting a senior government official, the report said that the summons were served to “ascertain details relating to the investigation.”
The notices were issued 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 IPC and the UAPA, the report said.
Actor Deep Sidhu and his brother, who have been involved with the protests, are also said to have been issued summons.
Baldev Singh Sirsa, president, Lok Bhalai Insaf Welfare Society, said he would not appear before the NIA on Sunday due to a prior engagement.
“Having failed to corner the farmers through other means, the government is now trying to intimidate us through the NIA,” he said.
Jasveer Singh Muktsar, a journalist with the UK-based KTV told the publication, “I have been asked to appear before the NIA on January 18. I shall be going there with my legal team. I do not know why I have been summoned. I am a journalist covering the protest.
What Does the FIR say?
The concerned FIR 40/2020 was filed on 15 December 2020 in Delhi against three accused – Gurpatwant Singh Pannu from the US, Paramjit Singh Pamma, who is based in the UK, and Hardeep Singh Nijjar from Canada. Pannu is the head of Sikhs for Justice.
The FIR says: “The central government has received information that Sikhs for Justice an ‘Unlawful Association under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and other Khalistani terrorist outfits including but not limited to Babbar Khalsa International, Khalistan Tiger Force and Khalistan Zindabad Force along with their frontal organisations have entered into a conspiracy to create an atmosphere of fear and lawlessness and to cause disaffection in people and to incite them towards rising in rebellion against the Government of India“.
The FIR further alleges that “funds are being collected abroad” for furtherance of this ‘conspiracy’.
“Large amounts of funds so collected are being sent through Non-Governmental Organisations to pro-Khalistani elements based in India, incite impressionable youth to undertake terrorist acts and to strike terror in the people of India,” the FIR further alleges.