Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau
PM Modi security breach in Punjab: Arrest warrants have been issued against 25 members of the Bharti Kisan Union (Krantikari) and Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union from Ferozepur district in connection with a three-year-old case of a security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on January 5, 2022. The PM, who was scheduled to address a rally in Ferozepur, had to return after members of these unions staged a protest at the Piareana flyover.
An FIR was initially registered on January 6, 2022, against unknown persons under IPC Section 283 (obstruction in public way), a bailable offence. However, following objections raised by BJP leaders over the weak FIR, a three-member SIT was formed. Based on the investigation, additional charges, including IPC Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (assault on a public servant), 341 (wrongful restraint), 186 (obstruction of duty), 149 (unlawful assembly), and 8-B of the National Highway Act, were added.
The FIR named 26 individuals, including Baldev Singh Zira, general secretary of BKU Krantikari, along with other union members and leaders of the Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union. However, no arrests were made until now. One of the accused, Major Singh, has since passed away, leaving 25 individuals facing arrest.
According to arrest warrants issued by a Ferozepur court on January 3, 2025, the accused had failed to appear in court despite multiple summons and warrants. The station house officer of Kulgarhi police station has been directed to arrest and produce them in court by January 22.
Surjeet Singh Phul, president of BKU Krantikari, told The Indian Express that one of the accused, Kamaljeet Singh (37) from Piareana, had applied for anticipatory bail, but the plea was rejected by district sessions judge Varinder Aggarwal on January 14. “Punjab Police has been sending arrest warrants to the accused and visiting their homes, pressuring family members to join the investigation. This is being done at the behest of the central government to target protesting farmers,” Phul alleged.
He further stated, “We are warning the government not to target farmers. The attempt-to-murder charges are baseless, as no confrontation occurred on the flyover. We were peacefully protesting against the PM’s visit as per the call of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM). The FIR and subsequent action are a result of central government pressure to intimidate union leaders.”
Phul also referred to an earlier incident in November. “Earlier, Punjab Police forcibly picked up Jagjit Singh Dallewal from the Khanauri border during the night of November 25-26, ahead of his planned hunger strike; he was later released on November 29. At that time, they attempted to sabotage our hunger strike program. We have warned the Punjab government not to follow in the footsteps of the central government.”
The farmers who have been issued warrants include Kamaljeet Singh, Baldev Singh Zira, Lakhwinder Singh, Avtar Singh, Gian Singh, and several others.
Phul commented, “By conducting raids, the police aim to force farmers into hiding, who are otherwise engaged in protests at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders.”
