CIA may interrogate referendum suspects

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 19

Staff of the Crime Investigating Agency (CIA) may bring ‘Referendum 2020’ suspects (arrested in October) on production warrant to find if there is any link between them and the Nirankari Bhavan grenade blast.

In October, the Punjab Police claimed to have busted a Khalistani module, thwarting a major attempt to vitiate communal harmony in the state, with the arrest of two persons — Sukhraj Singh, alias Raju, and Malik Singh, alias Meetu. They were allegedly engaged in propagating the ‘Referendum 2020’ campaign by affixing banners and posters at public places in the holy city.

According to the police, the two were being funded from overseas as part of the campaign started by Gurpartap Singh Pannu, legal adviser to the Sikh for Justice (SFJ), a New York-based organisation. The two were booked under Sections 124-A, 153-A, 153-B and 120-B of the IPC for making attempt to disturb peace by spreading hatred.

Following their probe, the CIA staff nabbed six more persons and — Vikramjit Singh, Harpreet Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Manjit Singh, Joginder Singh and Harmeet Singh.

The investigation carried out so far has revealed that they got funds from South Africa. They received around Rs 10 lakhs in parts through different means, including Hawala racket.

Vavinder Mahajan, in charge, CIA staff, said the suspects were in touch with their handler through a South African mobile number. “We are looking into the details whether it was being used in South Africa or Pakistan,” he added.